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I LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. § 



I iff. *(Si,a 



IdNITED states of AMEIUCA. 




f tthlit (0iinit till! Slim, ^Mlmstt €xni^ tjit §mh. 



TEMPLE OF REASON, 



AND 



DIGNITY OF SELF-GOVERNMENT 



DEDICATED TO THE AMERICAN REPUBLIC, 



AS A COMPENDIUM 



OF 



^Political, |31)ilo0opl)Ual, aub iHoral QElcmcuts, 



APPLICABLE TO OUR 



REPUBLICAN FORM OF GOVERNMENT. 



By henry QUINN, 

OF RIEGELSVILLE, BUCKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, 



RIEGELSVILLE: 

PUBLISHED Br THK AUTHOR. 

1856. 






^i-l 



'p .0 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1856, by 

HENRY QUINN, 

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Eastern District of 
Pennsylvania. 



CONTENTS. 

Preface, -- 5 

Mental and Spiritual Science, 17 

Sensation of Hearing, 23 

" Snaelling, 25 

" Taste, 27 

'' Touch, 28 

^^ the Understanding, - 31 

Sense of Reason and Reasoning, ------ 32 

" Speech, - 33 

A Chapter on Spiritual Science, ------ 43 

Observations and Retrospective View of the Philosophy of Mind, 50 

Reason : the test by which all our knowledge is to be established, 61 

Cause of the slow maturity of Reason, ----- 67 

Closing Observations to the Young Reader, - - - - "74 

Theology teaching mysteries of God in jarring systems of Faith 

and Practice, -- 78 

On the Religious Changes of the World — Jew, Christian and 

Mohammedan, --*-----. 85 

Metaphysics and Theology, the Chaos of Delusive Science, - ] 33 

Philosophical View of the Scriptures, ----- 162 

Slavery in the CJnited States, 213 

Exposition of the Five Principles on which Popery is based, - 234 

On the Origin of Worship, 246 

Natural Philosophy, 257 

Throne and Pulpit combined, - - - - . 301 

A Universal System of Ethics, 313 

Faith, 321 

Man's Omission of Duty, ------- 305 

On the Resurrection from the Dead, ----- 334 

A Practical Examination of the Evangelists, - - - 344 

Man's Accountability, ---.---- 3G9 

The Author-Hero of the Revolution, 377 

Columbus in Chains, - 386 

A Comparative View between the Duke of Wellington and 

Napoleon, 3S9 

Final Extinction of Life on Earth, 102 



ERRATA. 
Page 7, 10th line from top, for accept read except. 
57, 13th *^ bottom for higer read higher, 
76, 4th " top, for jpqpery read _patfpers. 

79, 10th ^^ top, for route read roh, 

80, 7th " bottom, for executed read exhausted, 
83, 12th " top, for receive read revive. 
85. 3d ^^ top, for sincerity read seniority. 
89, Bottom line for descending read dissenting. 
95, 16th line from top, for perfection read salvation. 
97, 6th " bottom, for obligation read oblation, 

107, top line, for if/imc read //i«ir 

113, 16th line from top, for prophet redidi forfeit, 

126, 6th ^' top, for promise read praise, 

129, 9th " bottom, for o/ read awd. 

1 34, 8th *' bottom, for staining read shedding. 

Bottom line, for father redi& founder. 



217, 12th line from top, for slaves read bondsmen. 
229, 8th «' bottom, for cargo read carriage. 
224, 16th *^ bottom, for laborimis read laborers, 
244,10th " topf for priests lesid prices. 



PREFACE 

To a J^ew Work^ original in matter and manner^ not here- 
tofore presented to the public^ on the most interesting 
subjects of human happiness^ embracing the philo- 
sophy of mental^ moral^ political^ and religious 
science— :rci> wide field to expatiate on the 
scenes of man. 

It being essential for a writer of a new work to give 
the outline matter and manner of it to the public, to 
awaken reflection on the delusions practiced by design- 
ing men to carry them into power by presuming know- 
ledge they cannot possess, on systems of king and priest- 
craft, and draw a parallel between the wisdom of the 
rulers of the ancient and modern world, as a criterion to 
judge whether books written through the superstitious 
ages, under governments of opposing interests, should 
be held as a standard of faith and practice in our more 
enlightened day, is here given for the world to judge. 
Our revolutionary sires took reason for their judgment 
to mature a constitution and code of laws to govern 
their new republic, in wisdom next to infinite. The 
testimony here to be given in support of the truth of 
this statement, is the immutable law of cause and elfect, 
''judge of the tree by its fruit. '^ A wise government 
rnakcs a hapi)y people, a foolish government unhappy. 
All subjects in this book, if religious, are to be supported 
1^ 



VI 



by scripture, which its advocates dare not deny. All 
other subjects to be supported in a similar way, the 
waiter soliciting disproof from his opponents, and be- 
lieves this book will be of equal importance to the w^orld 
as Luther's exposition of popery ; yet popery, odious as 
it is, is the original essence of Christianity, and if popery 
falls, as it assuredly will, trinitarianism falls with it, and 
all the rational world will merge into one creed, one 
God, one heaven for the righteous souls of mankind — 
then will peace and plenty bless the world. 

Politics and religion governed the world since time 
began, one the government of human actions, the other 
that of the mind, in spiritual matters — both divided in 
sentiment as to the ruling principles. The political par- 
ties, seeing the w^orld w^as more inclined to be governed 
by might than rational judgment, required a government 
of king and nobles, to be called a monarchy ; the dis- 
senters from this plan required a government of the free 
choice of the people, in imitation of the government of 
God — the greatest good to the greatest number — to be 
called a republic, such as the United States, which is the 
nearest in perfection to that of God. The religionists, 
similarly divided — one part requiring a spiritual hier- 
archy consisting of a chief pope and priests, to expound 
and teach their creed. The rational party, requiring free- 
dom from sectarian trammels, based their system on science, 
reason and sound sense, by taking the attributes of God 
as their standard, w^iich consists of wisdom, truth, jus- 
tice, goodness and mercy, the practice of which virtues 
would lead the world to happiness here and heaven in 
eternity. This is the religion of God, written in the 



Vll 

heavens above, and earth beneath, for man to see and 
know his duty, do it and be happy. This is all God 
requires of man, he evidently creating this gorgeous 
world to make all mankind happy, by performing those 
duties which are a pleasure to do, and receive a happy 
reward in heaven. 

Therefore all human creeds, not embracing these divine 
principles, are baseless in truth, and as evanescent as the 
fleeting clouds of heaven. God in the beginning created 
all things to work by self-governing laws. Man ac- 
cepted, he being endowed with spiritual and bodily 
senses to know his dignified station, as a deity of earth 
to govern it as a free agent, accountable to God and 
man for the rule of his action. All we know of God is 
in the works of his creation, conspicuous in the heavens 
above and earth beneath — the mighty sun, first born of 
creative power, the vivifying heat, light, life, and motion 
of surrounding worlds, all circling His throne in harmony, 
as an index to man, whereby to imitate his example. 
This is all the revelation or inspiration God ever or- 
dained to give to man — all human revelation or inspira- 
tion given by fiillible man is designing hypocricy to gain 
credit for wisdom he cannot possess. Here are no fabu- 
lous tales from books written in the dark ages of the 
world, and believed in preference to science and reason. 
Some believe in one indivisible God, some in a triune 
God-head, one of which was the illegitimate son of a 
w^oman — some in a plurality of Gods, equal in number 
to the stars of heaven — some in images, like Diana of 
the Ephesians — some like Solomon, worshiping beings 
the loveliest of (jod's creation, with images of earth and 



Vlll 

ocean, thus making religion changeable as fancy or in- 
terest dictates. 

All the prime founders and teachers of religion claimed 
immortality, yet when they found it could not carry 
them to heaven, all died subject to the laws of mortality, 
thus showing a sorrow^ful picture of the deluders of a 
sensitive but not a wise world. Melchisedek got so 
great by plunder and spoils, that he styled himself king 
and high priest of God forever. Moses styled himself 
the oracle of God, who possessed two distinctive na- 
tures, good and evil, w^hich he and his nation practiced 
through life. Jesus styled himself supreme God, yet his 
divinity could not save him from an ignominious death. 
Mohammed styled himself the true prophet of God, with 
one creed and one paradise for the souls of the just. 
The Pope of Rome styles himself the holy vice-gerent of 
God, in imitation of Jesus, '' He that seeth me seeth 
God, him in me and I in him." 

King David, held to be a man after God's own heart, 
headed a bandit army, plundered his neighboring nations, 
and with the spoils thereof ordered a Pagan temple to 
be built for his gaudy worship with his idolatrous son. 
Solomon built the harem city of abomination, wRerein 
were worshiped all unclean things, and polluted and re- 
viled the loveliest of God's creation. It was by the 
order of this evil god the pope of Rome waged seven 
desolating wars against pious Mohammed for refusing to 
w^orship the son of Mary. It was by this evil god the 
pope instituted the torturing inquisition, bastile, fiery 
stake, confiscation and extermination on the dissenters 
from the Pagan church of Rome. It was by the instiga- 



IX 



tion of this evil god that England waged seven years 
desolating war on their Protestant brethren in America, 
hiring Hessian boors by the head and savages by the 
scalp to butcher unoffending people, their bishops sanc- 
tioning and praying for the success of the British arms 
when their savage troops were burning our towns. 
Therefore, as there is no chance under crowned or mitred 
governments, but would consign the writer of this book 
to the scaffold, and his soul to hell for treason and 
blasphemy, truth and reason being a forbidden tenet in 
tyrannic governments, therefore, it is only in a republic 
the writer looks for encouragement in publishing this 
republican book, which will be supported by credita- 
ble history, science, reason and sound sense, and that 
all rational worship of one Supreme God, the essence 
and soul of the world, is here held to be the only true 
worship of enlightened men. Has trinitarianism or plu- 
rality of god-heads ever enlightened, but rather, bewil- 
dered the world by its complexity. God has projected 
his universe on self-governing principles, to work irre- 
vocable through time, action and reaction, cause and 
effect being the prime operation of the world of mind 
and matter ; matter acting on mind and mind acting on 
matter, produces all the phenomena of the world. God 
from a single cause produces millions of effects, whereas 
man has been in search of a system of religion, but has 
not yet seen it in the book of nature written by the 
hand of God, where all human knowledge can be ob- 
tained. 

He that knows the science of nature knows more 
of God than all theology ever taught or king ever prac- 



ticed. During the long obscurity of the Bible, modern 
governments had a longing desire to know the mode of 
governing their subjects ; they got the Bible translated 
into modern language and found it what they wanted, a 
book to hold power in kings and priests forever, by 
decreeing it a standard book of faith and worship, and 
hiring venal priests to preach it to the world as the book 
of God, given by divine inspiration. This is the insidi- 
ous chain that priests and kings wound round the world 
until the sages of the American revolution dissolved the 
charm, by erecting the standard of reason, science and 
sound sense, over degrading superstition. Yet the Bible 
is a valuable record to show the duplicity and tyranny 
of king and priestcraft, but a sorry standard book at 
our enlightened day. As our revolutionary sires em- 
bodied all modern and ancient improvements in their 
Constitution, next to the wisdom of Deity, we should 
revise a general system of religion, based on science, 
sense and reason, which embraces all human duties of 
life. Here is the principal points to be discussed in 
this book, which only breathes the majesty of God, 
the dignity of man, the honor and virtue of lovely 
woman, and that the writer avers that in presenting 
the delusions practiced on the world, he has no par- 
tiality for or against any religious sect or people, far- 
ther than the good or evil effects their systems pro- 
duce ; therefore, as the chief unhappiness of life arises 
from the clashing; doctrines of relii2;ion, more rational 
judgment should be exercised therein. Man has taken, 
since time began, to discover systems of religion in direct 
opposition to the established laws of nature. All reli- 



XI 

gious customs are based on former ones ; when it dies 
others succeed it in imitation of the former ; when the 
mosaic delusion died, the Christian race rose on its ruins ; 
Moses' life is said to be preserved in a miraculous way by 
King Pharaoh's daughter — Jesus' by secreting him from 
the ardor of King Herod. Jesus imitated Moses in 
all his miraculous designs ; Moses was forty days in the 
mount consulting with God on the law and religion to 
be given to his liberated nation — Jesus was forty days 
in the wilderness disputing with the Devil on the supre- 
macy of worship ; Moses absolved sins by the virtue 
infused into a he-goat — Jesus, by transferring virtue in 
the priests ; Moses adopting circumcision as the scale 
of salvation — Jesus adopted faith in his divinity as the 
only means of salvation. Moses being a highly edu- 
cated man juggled Pharaoh and al! his magicians, and 
led, like Alexander, his army of freebooters to extermin- 
ate and possess the fairest kingdoms of the earth, stating 
his orders to be the orders of God ; Jesus assuming to 
be God of God, like the East-India nations, all are 
taught to believe that God has given all his power to 
the demi-gods of earth, such as the pope, bishops and 
priests, and their orders are to be considered the orders 
of God ; the pope stating he that seeth me seeth God ; 
thus these blasphemous wretches usurp the infinity of 
God by claiming power they cannot possess, making 
their creeds and governments like chaos prior to its 
organization into harmonious order. 

All changes in politics and religion were carried into 
effect by secret combinations of designers like the pre- 
sent day to raise themselves into power. Christianity 



Xll 



commenced its insidious designs with one hundred and 
twenty conspirators to revolutionize the world, consist- 
ing of high-priests, prophets, counselors, lawyers and 
laymen, possessing all the duplicity, fraud and cupidity 
that man, demons and evil spirits could conceive, com- 
bined in a Jewatical conclave to carry out their ambi- 
tious designs, by which they succeeded to the height of 
their ambition, all but their fanatical leader, who, in- 
stead of receiving a Jewish crown, justly received a 
crown of thorns on Mount Calvary; and his deluded 
mother, forfeiting the affection of a fond husband, and 
cast on the pity of the wandering apostles as a spiritual 
sister of the conclave. 

In reference to the re-opening of the seven seals of 
the New Testament, said to be written by John on the 
Isle of Patmos, on the eve of the first century, when 
Christianity had firmly established its hierarchy in the 
city of Rome, with wealth gained by fraudulent means 
that would at this enlightened day consign them to the 
penitentiary. By this wealth they employed educated 
men to w^rite their sealed book of the Revelations, in a 
style of gorgeous scenery equal to Homer or Milton in 
their highest flights of imagery, which is only an echo 
of the miraculous sayings and doings of Jesus and his 
Apostles, in higher style of sublime language than the 
illiterate fishermen of the sea of Galilee could write, to 
bewilder and intimidate the w^orld by threatening ven- 
geance of Earth and Heaven on those that would 
attempt to re-open the seven seals. But the writer will 
fearlessly and truly expose their presumption to an indig- 
nant world, and show that all that God requires of man 



Xlll 



is to practice those virtues that will make himself and 
others happy, and finally challenge human intellect 
before a competent tribunal to disprove the principal 
charges contained in this book, or produce rational tes- 
timony to support a single tenet, creed, or miracle taught 
by college or pulpit, derogatory to the immutable laws 
that govern nature — all of w^hich will be illustrated in 
this book, called " Temple of Reason, and Dignity of 
Self-Government," which has been overshadowed since 
time began, by throne and pulpit, but will here, with 
the seven seals of the Revelation, be opened to the criti- 
cal eye of the philosopher, statesman and reader, who 
are requested to impartially, critically and understand- 
ingly read the book of which this preface is a forecast 
of the matter, manner and style of the writer, that has 
cost six years of devoted study to present a truthful 
exposition of the delusions of throne and pulpit, prac- 
ticed on an over-credulous w^orld, the object of which 
is evidently to cramp the mind from more dignified 
knowledge; and they who presume to know or do more 
out of the established laws of nature, are consummate 
impostors, and all well-informed men ought to spurn 
with contempt such deluding knaves, who have 
drenched earth with blood by their false prophecies and 
miracles. 

As this work embraces a wide field of excursion in 
all the prominent subjects of human interest, political, 
religious, scientific, and social, the book must be referred 
to for a general illustration of the whole — each subject 
treated separate, but being intermixed with philosophic 
science, each being a key to a general knowledge of the 
2 



XIV 

whole. We can find sense and science in all useful 
things, but theology is a grand speculation, equal to ten 
per cent, of the world. Infinite Wisdom appears to have 
projected His universe on progressive principles of matu- 
rity, but theological science has never yet founded a 
rational basis to build their system upon. The world 
of mind is only beginning to develop its energies ; 
throne and pulpit cannot much longer hold mind in bond- 
age. As the sun breaks through the mists of morning, 
so the light of science dispels the darkness of supersti- 
tion. The philosopher sees God in the wind, clouds, 
and sunshine, the mighty ocean heaving its bosom like 
a pulse of life, rolling its surging billows over half the 
globe, then tranquilizing its troubled waves like the 
parting soul of the just, merging into the unfathomed 
sea of Deity from whence none ever returns — earth pro- 
gressively yielding its fruit and flowers for the comfort 
and happiness of man, thus making a paradise of peace 
and plenty, every man lord of his own domains, with 
intellect to govern himself and family in the righteous 
way of God. Then man, with the splendid chart of 
nature before him, will w^ork out his own salvation with- 
out the forgiveness of sins or prayers of the clergy, as 
long prayers are a heathen relic of idolatry, impotent to 
affect the immutable nature of God — and that the writer 
avers that his book is not meant to oppose rational wor- 
ship, but to purify worship and worshipers of false 
gods, begotten and deified by man, and supports the 
rational worship of one supreme God, the essence and 
soul of the world, with one creed and one heaven for 
the righteous souls of mankind. 



XV 

This, kind reader, is a sample of the style, matter 
and mind of the writer of the book called " Temple of 
Reason," dedicated to the American Republic, as a com- 
pend of political, philosophical, and moral elements, 
respectfully submitted to an enlightened public, and 
solicits the kind consideration of his friends in his 
effort to disenthrall a much abused world from mental 
bondage. 



MENTAL AND SPIEITUAL SCIENCE. 



" Know then thyself, presume not God to scan, 
The proper study of mankind is man." — Pope. 



In commencing, the illustration of mental science, or 
philosophy of mind, is a subject which has occupied the 
mind of the philosopher and scholar, and is considered 
one of the most essential branches for man to know — 
that he is a two-fold being, possessing a living body and 
a spiritual soul, to exist throughout eternity — the action 
of the body accountable to the laws of his country, that 
of his soul to the laws of God. Thou shalt do no evil : 
this much of human knowledge all men should know, as 
in the appropriate lines of Pope, one of the most intel- 
lectual writers this or any other age has produced. A 
knowledge of this branch of science will teach more of 
God and his attributes than all the bewildering systems 
that theology ever taught, priest ever preached, or pro- 
phet ever prophesied from their ambiguous souls, or 
books ever wrote by sectarian polemics. Science en- 
lightens the mind by demonstrative testimony, which is 
the direct testimony of God ; human testimony teaches 
generally from traditionary iables of superstitious ages 
of the world, instead of science or reason ; and the best 
of our sectarian systems are based on hypothetical sur- 
mise, bewildering the unlettered mind instead of enlight- 
2* 



18 

ening it, in the true demonstrative knowledge of matter, 
motion, spirit, mind and God — which is all man can 
know : he being a terrestrial child of earth, knows nothing 
of celestial things farther than observation and experi- 
ence in the visible operation of nature, and derived 
therefrom. This is the limit of human capacity, he 
being a child of earth and a candidate for heaven — a 
spark struck from the fount of Deity, like the comet 
shot from the sun, 

** Awhile along its airy paths to burn, 
And like the soul to travel and return 
Along the path by mortals never trod, 
Springs to his source the essence of his God.'' 

Here, gentle reader, we close on this brief address, and 
commence the illustration of mental science, as connected 
with our living body, which is a w^orld in miniature, the 
highest and last link in the chain of mental being ; one 
step higher, man merges into the spirituality of God. 

The sensation of seeing is considered the crowning facul ty 
of the bodily sense that Creative Power has bestowed 
on man, it furnishing him with information so essential 
to his enjojment that he who loses it loses the chief of 
human happiness. These organs of seeing are gracefully 
placed under two arches in the most conspicuous part of 
the dome of the forehead, as reflecting mirrors to the 
mind. In the objects of the outer world of gorgeous 
beauty the green earth, its mountains, valleys, rivers 
and seas, its trees and pleasing habitations of man ; the 
heavens above with their gorgeous scenery of clouds and 
sunshine ; the planetary orbs rolling around their cen- 



19 

tral luminary ; the mighty Sun, the first born of Creative 
Power, like the effulgence of his maker, shedding his 
vivifying beams of dazzling splendor over the world ; 
the mighty ocean, heaving its swelling bosom like the 
pulsations of life, rolling its mountain billows over more 
than half the globe. Still farther, this heavenly vision 
carries to the far-off bourne of Jupiter, next in magni- 
tude to the Sun ; thence to Herschel, the outer sentinel 
of the solar system, requiring, in its rapid flight of 15,000 
miles per hour, eighty-three years to make a revolution 
around the world. 

This, kind reader, is a brief outline of God's bestowed 
faculty called vision, as an auxiliary to man's joys and 
happiness — and now explain more fully the wonderful 
mechanism of the eye. These organs of sight, called the 
eyes, each consist of a ball and socket, about an inch in 
diameter, situated in a circular orbit in the front of the 
forehead, like a dormer window, to give light to the in- 
ward arrangements of the spiritual house. These organs 
consist of transparent substances called humors, of vari- 
ous refractive densities — aqueous, crystalline and vitreous. 
The first refraction takes place on the surface of the 
convex cornea of the eye, which receives the rays of 
light, converges and transmutes them to the aqueous 
humors and transparent fluids situated between the 
cornea and crystalline humors. The puj)il in the centre 
of the iris admits of the transmission of the rays from 
the aqueous humors to the crystalline lens, by which 
they are again refracted and transmitted to the vitreous 
humors, in which is placed the retina, net expansion of 
the optic nerve; thus after the rays of light have under- 



20 

gone several refractions, they produce on the retina a 
distinct image of the object from which they are re- 
flected. 

If there be an atheist, after studying the design of 
the eye, its construction, powers, and susceptibilities for 
seeing all the varieties of pleasing beauty of nature, 
all adding to the happiness and joys of favorite man, 
he must be obstinate beyond the power of reason or de- 
monstration to reclaim. Or believe blind chance ever 
produced such wisdom in the construction of the human 
eye and its connection with the brain, the seat of sensa- 
tion and abode of the soul — the eye and the brain being 
the grand crowning faculties bestowed on man. The 
eye, brain and heart, being closely connected, a strong 
sympathy exists reciprocally between them. If the 
brain is disordered the heart sighs, and the eyes weep 
tears for joy or sorrow as the case may be, therefore no 
farther than these three organs of sensation can we trace 
anything in the human body but organized matter, void 
of spiritual sense, as brute instinct. 

Our corporeal faculties may be compared to a river, 
where large and small streams flow into it, and swell it 
into a majestic flood, like the mighty Amazon drains in 
its thousands of streams, increasing its magnitude, trans- 
parency and calmness of motion, over a pearly bed four 
miles wide, gliding tranquilly into its destined ocean, 
from whence it sprung — like the souls of the just, pass- 
ing tranquilly into the shoreless sea of eternity^— so in 
like manner by the communicative inlets of the body, 
collecting the surrounding objects of nature, or, like the 
optic nerve, transmitting the rays of light to the seat of 



21 

sense (the brain) each sense contributing to swell the 
intellectual fountain as it glides tranquilly into eternity. 

The coats and humors of the eye resemble the lenses 
of a telescope for the refraction of the rays of light, to 
a point which forms the proper action of the organ. 
The provision in its muscular tendons for turning it to 
the object of view is similar to the turning of a tele- 
scope in bringing the eye to bear on the object; the de- 
sign of its constant lubricity of moisture, floating in 
limpid ether, washing the orbs with tears of joy or sor- 
row ; these designs compose a system so exquisite in 
means to accomplish ends, so infinitely wise in construc- 
tion, beneficial in their operation, and infinitely beautiful 
in their aspect, w^hich bear down every opposition 
against disbelief in the existence of an infinitely wise 
architect of this gorgeous world of mind and matter, 
whom men call God. 

As the corporeal senses of the body are so mysteri- 
ously connected with the organ of sensation called the 
brain, we will here give a concise explanation of it. 
The brain is known to reside in the cavity of the head, 
a strong, bony substance, apparently to protect it from 
external injury, there to slumber in silence until being 
operated upon by some of the bodily senses. 

The brain is a half fibrous, soft and pulpy texture, 
consisting of many convolutions, no doubt to answer all 
the intended purposes of which we are ignorant. From 
the spinal marrow of the brain, proceeds a vast number of 
fine cords called nerves, which penetrate through all 
])arts of tlie body, like the fibres of a tree, all apparently 
of the same substance as the brain, becomino; at tlu^ir 



22 

extremities so fine as not to be seen by the eye ; these nerves 
are called the organs of sensation, which come in con- 
tact and inform us of all the external objects of sur- 
rounding nature. All these nerves concenter into their 
main body, the brain, the grand sensorium of all our 
senses, as we can trace spirituality no farther than the 
brain ; which is believed to be surrounded by a floating 
atmosphere of spiritual ether, electricity, or the essence 
of God, and abode of the soul, the immortal spirit of 
man. 

Sure man's boasted knowledge stands awed on the 
threshold of Deity. Here is the last step in the visible 
process of matter ; the next step is into the eternity of 
mind ; here the soul holds its high court of chancery, 
the final result of all investigation of the actions of mind 
and matter ; here the curtain falls over the science of 
mental philosophy, limiting knowledge to the internal 
and external operations of sense as acted upon by the 
surrounding objects of material nature. Alas, for misty 
metaphysics, catching at the shadow to ascertain the 
substance; and alas, for modern Theology, the offspring 
of heathen Mythology, the stumbling-block of a sensitive 
but not rational world ! 

• God has endowed man with every requisite to under- 
stand all that relates to his prosperity and happiness in 
this transitory life, consistent with his anticipated views 
of a purer state of happiness in a spiritual world. Yet 
he deplorably neglects the cultivation of those heaven- 
bestowed faculties, in letting them lie dormant in his 
mind, and pursues delusive traditionary notions, vitiating, 
instead of enlightening his mind. 



23 

When God has done all for the happiness of his ra- 
tional creatures that Infinite Wisdom could do, consistent 
with His plan of creation, in the free agency of man and 
his accountability for action ; independent of the insidi- 
ous doctrine of election and phrenology ; thus man be- 
ing a free agent, God having done all that was necessary 
for his happiness ; therefore to himself he riseth in the 
scale of intellectual happiness, or sinks to the level of 
irrational creatures. 

SENSATION OF HEARING. 

Thus having so far given a brief description of the 
two highest corporeal organs, the eye and the brain, the 
latter the terminus of corporeal investigation ; we shall 
now proceed to give a brief description of the organ of 
hearing, called the ear ; next to the eye as a sense of 
enjoyment to man. 

What intelligent person has not the pleasure of hear- 
ing the melody of the human voice ; the joyous prattle 
of infant innocence ; the melody of the songsters of the 
woods ; the laughing joys of mothers, sisteijs and bro- 
thers, with all we love and venerate ; the T^iguage of 
such a sublime orator as Cicero, pouring out a flow of 
intellectual knowledge in the ears of his delighted 
hearers ; the philosopher teaching the mysteries of God, 
by demonstrative evidence tracing His existence through 
corporeal matter and motion, up to the throne of His 
Deity — unlike the polemic sectarian, quoting the opinions 
of co-believers in his own doctrine as proof of his no- 
tions, proofs as baseless as the shadow of a substance, or 
phantom of a dream. 



24 

Much might be said on the pleasures derived from 
this delightful sense, and we shall proceed to explain 
it more fully here, as well as in the general summary. 

The organ in man, called the ear, is located on each 
side of the head within the temporal bone, in an internal 
bony cavity w^ith numerous circuitous, winding passages. 
These two distinct passages are separated by a strong- 
transparent membrane, stretched across the passages, 
called tympanum or drum of the ear. By this mem- 
brane the vibrations of the air are received from the ex- 
ternal ear, and transmitted through the passage called 
the labyrinth, to the auditory nerve, which is formed 
into a beautiful expansion like the optic nerve on the 
retina. The auditory nerve conveys the impression to 
the brain, and the immediate result is the sensation of 
hearing. The cause of this sensation is the air, thrown 
into a tremulous vibratory state, by the agitated motion 
of the surrounding atmosphere. As the agitated air 
comes in contact with the ear, the sensation of hearing 
the different degrees of sound are heard, and by obser- 
vation of the tensity, or mildness, is generally under- 
stood from what kind of body the sound proceeds. 

It is not the intention of the writer to enter into a 
minute illustration of the delightful sense of hearing, as 
all the subjects are to be treated with brevity — prolixity 
rather bewildering than enlightening the understanding — 
therefore shall proceed to the illustration of the sense of 
smelling, which although not equal to those described, 
yet most essential in its use, by contributing to the general 
stock of intellectual happiness of man. 



25 



SENSATION OF SMELLING. 



The sense of smell is far from being an unimportant 
part of the mental constitution, it assists in the selection 
of our food ; apprises us of the existence of injurious 
qualities; it guards us against atmospheric vapors which 
might extinguish life ; it contributes its share to the 
general happiness of the human race, and a considerable 
share in the sources of gratification. The fragrance of 
the fields, the delightful images that rise in our minds 
on the thoughts of spring, summer and the country; re- 
presenting every form of ethereal beauty, as if it were 
the breath of heaven ; from the innumerable flowers with 
which Nature bedecks the earth, as a tribute of incense 
to God ; that is adorning earth with her bright diversi- 
ties of coloring which re-animate joy in the human 
breast, and renders the season of flowers almost a new 
life to man, and when these colors fade she still retains 
their sweet flavors. 

'' You may break, you may ruin the vase as you will, 
But the scent of the flow'rets will lie in it still. ^' 

We are now to describe the organ of smell, which con- 
sists of a set of nerves, distributed through the delicate 
and sensitive mucous membrane which lines the cavities 
of the nostrils and the sinuses with which they commu- 
nicate. It is said they arise from the brain in a triangu- 
lar form, passing over the frontal bone, conducted to 
each side of the nostrils, and spread out in numerous 
minute ramifications on the membrane referred to above. 
The whole of this delicate organization is defended by 
the bones of the nose, which are admirably adapted to 
3 



26 

preserve it from injury, and assist in speech and respira- 
tion. 

The sensations that are received by means of this 
organ are effected by a cause and in a manner eluding 
our researches. A certain state of mind is produced, 
varying with the nature of the cause from which it re- 
sults ; this state of mind, we call the sensation of smell; 
which it is impossible to define or describe. 

All the simple and original feelings of our nature must 
be experienced to be known. How^ it comes to pass 
that this peculiar mental affection should be invariably 
subsequent to the organic change, and what is the nature 
of the connection that exists between the two, philoso- 
phy is totally unable to explain. We have nothing 
more to say than such is the constitution of our nature. 
What is the w^ill and design of God, in bestowing this 
as an addition to our happiness ? We might enlarge 
upon this topic, but it would not more fully explain, but 
rather overburden the memory than enlighten the under- 
standing. The knowledge of the main principles of 
any science need only be learned by those who desire to 
teach it. The principles or outlines of any branch can 
be impressed upon the memory through life, by occasion- 
ally calling it into view, to converse with, as an absent 
friend of former days, or like perusing a volume we had 
pleasure in reading heretofore. The memory, like a bow 
long bent, will lose its elasticity ; so with the mind, 
which ought not to be overburdened. 



27 

SENSATION OF TASTE. 

The organs of this sense are certain nervous papilla3, 
whose principal seat is the surface of the tongue, and 
especially its sides and apex, which constitute a most 
convenient situation for these nerves, inasmuch as the 
flexibility of that member may be easily brought into 
contact with the substance to be tasted. It is probable 
also, that similar papillae exist within the substance of 
the mucous membrane which lines the palate, as we find 
the sensation of taste is increased when the sapid body 
is pressed between the palate and the tongue. 

It is with manifest propriety that the organ of this 
sense guards the entrance of the alimentary canal; as 
that of smell, the entrance of the canal for respiration ; 
and from these organs being placed in such a manner 
that everything that enters the stomach must undergo 
the scrutiny of both senses, it is plain that they 
were intended by Infinite Wisdom to distinguish whole- 
some food from that which is noxious, as brutes have no 
other means of choosing their food, nor mankind in a 
savage state. It is very probable that the smell and 
taste, no way vitiated by luxury or bad habits, would 
never lead us into a wrong choice of food, especially 
when all the senses concur in the examination — the 
smell and taste being to the other senses the analyzing 
process of a confiding result, produced by these guard- 
ing sentinels of man's health and happiness. The nature 
of the sensations received by means of these senses, we 
are well acquainted are known to admit of numberless 
variety of enjoyments, all demonstrating the loving 
kindness and l)lessing conferred on man, to make liim as 



28 

happy as this probationary state of life permits. We 
close this subject with the lines of the philosophic poet, 
Pope : — 

*^ Hope springs eternal in the human breast, 
Man never is, but always to be blest. '^ 

SENSATION OF TOUCH. 

There is a broad line of distinction between the sense 
of touch, and those previously considered, as those 
senses occupy particular parts of the body, whereas the 
organs of touch diffuse themselves all over the pores of 
the skin, which appear to be the inlets of that class of 
sensations now to be considered. To give a minute 
delineation of this extended sense of touch and feeling, 
w^ould only bewilder instead of farther enlightening the 
understanding of the common reader, closing with a 
brief illustration of the utility and diversified sources of 
pleasure, enjoyments and happiness we derive from it ; 
showing conclusively the design of Infinite Goodness in 
supplying man with every source of gratifying pleasure 
this transitory state of existence was meant to enjoy. 

The sense of touch, like that of sight, is a continual 
source of grateful enjoyments. What joy can exceed 
that of the cherub boy climbing his parent's knee to 
share the affectionate embrace of a mother's love or a 
father's joy? Or the seraph daughter claiming her 
equal right of parental caress ? What the pressure of 
the soft hand of those we respect, and the soft lips of 
those we purely love — a wife — a sister — a daughter ; 
the saintly embrace of a mother around the neck of a 
long absent son or daughter, the filial tear of joy shed 
on such occasions, in which angels might participate, 



29 

like Joseph of old, weeping joyous tears of pure affec- 
tion, while hanging around the neck of his aged sire, 
exclaiming those impassioned words, '^I am Joseph, 
does my father yet live?'' Here are flowery spots in 
life's passage, and sweets in our cup of sorrows, like a 
well wrought picture of light and shade mingled in har- 
monious order, but an overwhelming preponderance in 
behalf of human happiness. If man will but perform 
those duties to insure it in this life, and the anticipated 
joys of eternity. Creative Power has done all for his 
happiness that Infinite Wisdom could do, consistent with 
his plan of creation and free agency. Here God has set 
before man all that is morally good, the practice of 
which will make him happy. According to the invaria- 
ble law of cause and effect, the infraction of the law of 
good will be the causes of his unhappiness, thus show- 
ing that God is exempt from the creation of evil, and 
only the creator of all good, and man the creator of all 
evil, therefore to himself he riseth or falleth to the hap- 
piness of angelic natures, or sinks to the groveling 
nature of soulless creatures. 

Intellectual man can no more, with consistency, call 
on God for more than He in his wisdom has, unasked for, 
given, than an earthly son can call on his father, who 
has provided for him every earthly comfort essential to 
his happiness, together with an enlightened mind, to 
know his high position in the scale of intellectual beings. 
Therefore, the more man knows of the laws whereby 
God governs mind and matter, the more he is convinced 
of the existence of an infinitely wise, good, great, and 
merciful God. 
3^ 



30 

Although all we see and know of God is by his works 
of creation, in them we see design blended with infinite 
wisdom, all concentring to one object, that of providing 
for the sustenance, comfort and happiness of his crea- 
tures, and that he has placed man here as a representa- 
tive of himself— a kind of terrestrial deity to govern 
this lower world, in imitation of that order and harmony 
by which he governs the universe. Therefore, as Infi- 
nite Wisdom has thought proper to give man no other 
reliable criterion to judge of his divinity, than through 
the medium of his w^orks (which is all-sufficient) to rely 
in the full belief of the final result of a purer and hap- 
pier state of existence in a spiritual eternity, as 

^' Not to this evanescent speck of earth 
Is man confined, the radiant spheres on high 
Are his exalted range. Intent to gaze 
Creation through ; and from the full complex 
Of never-ending wonders, to conceive 
The sole being, right. Who spake the word 
And nature moved, in all its works complete.'' 

So far has been given a brief description of the cor- 
poreal senses of the body ; inlets and communications to 
the mind ; they may be considered the sentinels of com- 
munication, to convey the external scenery of the sur- 
rounding world as far as the eye can see, the ear hear, 
the nose smell, the mouth taste, the body feel, or the 
tongue speak. These senses being possessed of no 
spiritual knowledge cannot communicate anything to the 
mind, but the corporeal objects of surrounding nature, 
nor does mind possess any other knowledge than w^hat 
is communicated to it, through the aforesaid bodily 



31 

senses. Thus limiting human knowledge to the opera- 
tion of natural causes and effects ; mind acting on matter 
and matter acting on mind. Mind a sense, ether ; part 
resulting from animal organization which dies w^ith the 
body, the ethereal part believed to be the universal 
spirit of God, which animates the universe. This is the 
limit of human knowledge ; of all beyond this man knows 
no more than when he first drew breath. 

SENSATION OF THE UNDERSTANDING. 

We shall now commence an explanation of the two 
senses of mind, called understanding and reason. 

These two grand principles contain all the knowledge 
the mind can comprehend, mental, moral and physical ; 
the embodiment of mind and matter, with their various 
phenomena ; the action of mind on matter and matter 
on mind, their causes and effects, simple and combined. 
Mind, as heretofore stated, appears to be a sense, ele- 
ment, a part resulting from bodily organization, and dies 
with the body ; the other part, believed to be the univer- 
sal spirit, whereby God created all existent nature, and 
this universal spirit cannot die, but returns to the sea of 
Deity from whence it emanated, like the comet, struck 
from the Sun, 

*' Awhile along its airy path to burn, 
And, like the soul, to travel and return." 

As to the essence of soul or spirit, mortals are entirely 
ignorant as the babe yet unborn, therefore all that mor- 
tals can know of spirit or matter, is their apparent 
operations and eilects on each other; matter acting on 



32 

matter, and the result produced ; matter acting on mind, 
and its results ; mind acting on matter, and its results. 
This is the principal operation of nature, which all our 
knowledge is limited to ; and he who presumes to know 
more than rational science teaches, is a knavish deceiver, 
leading astray by the bewildering teachings of meta- 
physics and its offspring. Theology, clearly exemplified 
in the tragic case of Cain and Abel. Here man first 
devised a system of false religious worship, of life sacri- 
fice. Here metaphysics and theology first commenced 
their bloody worship, which spread over the world like 
a contagious pestilence, blighting the peace and happi- 
ness of man by reeking altars of human gore, with fat 
beeves and fatlings, which God gave to man for his sus- 
tenance, but which the bloody priests taught were in- 
tended for sacrifices to God. And yet, at this more 
enlightened day, priests, popish and protestant, teach 
that there is no remission of sin without the shedding ot 
blood, and that the sacrifice of an illegitimate son of a 
woman w^as to be a full propitiation to God for the sim 
of all those who would believe in his divinity, and ah 
disbelievers to be damned ; which closed the Jew's des- 
tiny ; which generally merged into Mahometanism with 
the w^orship of one God, more congenial to the Jew than 
the Christian trinity, which they consider a heathen relit 
revived. 

SENSE OF REASON AND REASONING. 

This sense is considered that faculty of the mind which 
distinguishes man from all other terrestrial beings. 
Reason is considered the acting agent of the mind, pos- 



33 

sessing the power of examining, comparing and devis- 
ing means to accomplish ends ; to discover causes ; 
to produce new or improved results ; to analyze the four 
elements of nature ; to trace the causes of effects ; to 
eradicate the evil cause and support the good ; to detect 
right from wrong, truth from falsehood, virtue from 
vice ; in short, reason may be considered the mental 
crucible of the mind, to analyze and philosophize the 
political, moral and natural world of mind and matter, 
up to the great first cause of all causes, to a being we 
call God, and know no more. This is the field and 
limits of the action of the human mind and body, and he 
w^ho would presume to know more should be considered 
like a foolish mariner, who put his ship to sea without 
chart, compass or fathom-line to measure his soundings, 
or cast like the prophet Jonah into a whale-boat, to risk 
the terrors of blind chance. 

Here, gentle reader, is a brief exposition of the science 
of the mind called reason ; a fuller explanation will be 
given in the retrospective view of this absorbing subject. 

SENSE OF SPEECH. 
This sense or faculty of the mind is distinct from all 
the other organs of sense, it having to perform a two- 
fold duty. This organ of speech is called the tongue, 
which all are familiarly aquainted with. It is placed in 
the mouth, at the entrance of the passage leading into 
the stomach, as a sentinel to guard any improper food 
from passing that way until it is properly prepared for 
the digestion of the stomach, where it undergoes ti 
chemical process ; the nutritious element of the food be- 



34 

ing absorbed and circulated throughout the body, nour- 
ishing and stimulating the whole system, like the pro- 
cess of distillation, extracting the pure spiritual element 
from the gross part. 

This last bountiful sense added to all the others, in 
giving us the pleasure of eating a selection from the de- 
licious fruits of the earth, fatlings of the field, fishes of 
the sea, and fowls of the air, shows demonstratively 
and conclusively that God's intention in creating man 
was to make him happy, by bestowing blessings upon 
him from heaven, earth, air and water — enough in all 
goodness to make him happy, but his own evil designs 
have. marred his happiness ; he refusing the only terms 
on which his present and future happiness could be ob- 
tained, voluntarily choosing the evil and refusing the 
good. Therefore God in all His ways is totally exempt 
from the cause of evil, and purely the source of all good. 

The main instrument of this sense is the tongue, in 
connection with the palate, mouth, teeth, lips, nose and 
voice ; all of which are required to cooperate in their 
various modulations and articulate sounds into words of 
meaning and language. The tongue, like the flying 
fingers on the harp or piano ; or in case of songs, the 
voice, like the mellow-toned organ, rising to the highest 
key, and gradually lowering to the dying sound of 
the Eolian harp, lulling the soul into a transient state of 
happiness. 

The tongue is the member by which the mind com- 
municates its meaning, by language, to the outer world, 
and delivers it truly as the mind prompts it. The sen- 
tinel, tongue, may be considered the expositor of the 



35 

mind, organized with every auxiliary means to perform 
its functions instantly when required. It is by this 
faculty of speech that we can communicate our wants 
and wishes to one another, it is the harbinger of joy and 
the pleasure of our social circle of friends and relatives, the 
enlivener of our wut, the cheerer of our despondency. 
The friendly press of the hand, the joyous welcome and 
cheering salutations, the happy sociabilities of human 
life, the musical voice of those we love, the glee of 
happy childhood, is thrilling joy to a fond parent's soul. 
In short, God appears to have reserved his closing effort 
for the happiness of man, by conferring on him the 
faculty of speech — the bond and cement of all the other 
fiicuUies of body and mind. What w^ould life be to us 
without speech? — happiness could not consist in silence. 

The birds of the air give forth from their happy souls 
the thrilling notes of song. Man thrills his soul into 
ecstasy by the sentient language and voice of song ; he 
introduces himself into the omnipresence of Deity, by 
adoration, thanksgiving and praise for this happy boon 
of life, with the fond and rational anticipation of a purer 
state of happiness in eternity. 

Here, gentle reader, we close this brief illustration of 
mental science. If the reader takes half the reflection 
of thought in reading and understanding it, the writer 
is induced to believe that it will make him a wiser and 
better man, and give him a clearer knowledge of himself 
and the attributes of God than all that theological col- 
leges ever yet taught, pulj)its preached, sectarian po- 
lemics wrote, the Bible discovered, or the four evange- 
lists and twelve apostles ever conceived in their deceptive, 



36 

fraudulent and ambitious minds, raising themselves from 
the underdrift of society to assume spiritual and temporal 
reign over heaven, earth, the bodies, souls and fortunes 
of mankind. 

If ail the ingenuity of man, demons, and devils was 
combined to devise a plan to degrade, brutalize and de- 
ceive the world, they could not form a plan of greater 
torpitude than Christian popery. Truly has priest 
Hogan said; (he having been bred in their hereme 
knew all their v^ays, and denounced them in the follow- 
ing words :) ^^ Christian Popery is the embodiment of 
all that is evil, and divested of all that is good,^^ the 
bane of earth, and abomination of heaven. 

Having novr finally closed on the science of mind in 
connection with that of the body, with a brief outline of 
the deception practiced on the bewildered minds of un- 
learned men, led in their contracted circle like Samson 
in his tread-mill, mentally and morally blind, both 
leaders and led, we shall now finally close on the cor- 
poreal operations of the body, uncontrolled by the 
spiritual senses of the mind, such as hunger, thirst, 
local pain or general disease, pulsation of the heart, 
circulation of the blood, breathing and respiration of the 
lungs, all performing their animal functions awake or 
asleep, by innate laws impressed in the body by their 
Creator, which mortals cannot control. 

MAN, A WORLD IN MINIATURE. 

*' The chain of being is complete in me, 
In me is matter's last gradation lost, 
And the next step is spirit — Deity. 
I can command the lightning, and am dust, 



37 

A monarch and a slave ; a worm, a god. 
Whence came I here, and how unknown. This clod 
Lives surely through some higher energy, 
For, from itself alone it cannot he." 

The powers and faculties the mind possesses by means 
of our exteinal senses are numerous ; the principal of 
which are memory, conception, judgment, reason, con- 
sciousness of being, with its affinities; moral perception 
of good or evil, cause and effect ; taste for refinements 
of mental, moral and physical beauties of art and nature; 
the power of resolving and analyzing complex objects 
and compounding simple ones. These eight principles 
embrace all the vast varieties of mind, whose searching 
powers have analyzed the four constituent elements of 
Art and Nature, and ascended by steps up to the throne 
of Deity. But terrestrial bodies cannot enter until di- 
vested of their mortality. Here, gentle reader, are the 
limits of human knowledge, like the ocean wave, limited 
to a span. Here shalt thou go, but no farther, and here 
shall thy soaring ambition be stayed to the outer firma- 
ment of God, and he that presumes to know more than 
this is a deceptive knave. 

We shall now close this nervous subject of the opera- 
tions of the bodily member as propelled into action by 
the impulse of the mind, like the impulsive power of the 
steam engine, gives motion to every member of the body 
by an acting agent called the will, which when called 
upon to act on one or the whole of the bodily agents, acts 
as quick as the impulse of steam on the locomotive, or the 
electric flash on the wire. The nerves, like the telegraph 
wires, communicating their impulse to the muscles, the 
4 



38 

last acting agent of the moving member of the body, each 
member performing its function throughout the living 
engine, the limbs to carry the body, the arms and hands 
to defend it, and accomplish its designs ; the eyes to 
see, and direct its course ; the ears to hear ; the nose to 
smell ; the mouth to taste and eat our food ; the sen- 
sitive body to feel touch all over. Thus far is given a 
clear explanation of the external operations of the mem- 
bers of the body, by the impulse of the mind. 
. We shall now make a final close with an explanation 
of the internal organs of the body, they being of nearer 
affinity to the brain, the seat of all our senses, the abode 
of the soul, a living spark from the never dying fount of 
Deity, like a comet struck from the sun. 

''Along i^s airy path awhile to burn, 
And like the soul, to travel and return.'^ 

This closing exposition of the internal organs of the 
body, the centre of our tender feeling, (the heart,) with 
a larger connection with the brain than all the other 
nerves connected with our sensations, and its pathetic 
description; fitter for the pen of a seraph than that of a 
man. 

In the construction of the human body, all the wis- 
dom of Creative Power seems to have been exercised. 
The head, like the finishing dome of a temple, its 
front elevation, with two living mirrors to transmit 
light to the interior spiritual repository, the brain, and 
from thence view the outer world of splendid beauty 
and harmony, the heavens above, and the earth beneath. 
On each side of this crowningf dome is an entrance to let 



39 

in pleasing sounds, the harmony of song, the mirth of 
joy and music of the spheres, the sighing winds of hea- 
ven breathing on the Eolian harp, lulling the soul into 
tranquil joy of happiness, like the silent entrance into 
balmy sleep, a foretaste of the joys of heaven. In front 
of this dome, between the above described mirrors or 
optic nerves of sight, is placed gracefully the organ of 
smell and respiration, to receive the sweet scents and 
odors of Nature, the sweet breath of a healthy infant, 
the breathing kiss of a fond wife, the saintly breath of a 
mother or daughter, the flowery fields and balmy air of 
spring, Avafting its odors, thus breathing in the life- 
giving gales of heaven, fraught with the incense of 
earth, all contributing by their different nature to the 
delightful pleasures of our being. Next beneath this 
organ of respiration and smell is the mouth, for tasting 
and preparing our food from a table spread with the 
wholesome products of the earth, pleasing to the eye, 
delicious to the taste and smell, invigorating and 
strengthening our whole system. 

Who that understands God's benevolent designs and 
blessings bestowed on man to make him happy here, 
with the reasoning belief in a final state of happiness in 
eternity, would murmur or repine against our universal 
Parent who has provided so bountifully for our comfort 
and happiness, without any other requirement of us than 
to enjoy the means of happiness and be happy here, 
which will prepare for a final state of happiness in endless 
eternity, so that from all we can see and know in the 
works of creation, (which is the only source of true know- 
ledge, to know God and his attributes,) His design in 



40 

creating a world, was to increase the sphere of universal 
happiness in time and eternity by a continual accession 
of happy spirits into Heaven. This is the most rational 
inference that the crowning faculties of God-endowed 
powers of reason can draw on the design of Omnipo- 
tence in creating this gorgeous world of matter, motion, 
and living spirit. We shall now make a final close on 
mental science, or the philosophy of mind as connected 
with body. 

It appears all the chief sensations of the body lie in 
the head, as described, yet the central organ of the 
body is ascertained to be the first centre of motion, and 
germ of life in the womb, and the last motion of life in 
the dying body, like the last beat of a watch, when the 
spring runs down, without means to wind it up, sinks 
to death and silence evermore. This organ, (the heart,) 
is known by all persons of common experience to be an 
oval or pear-like figure, largely connected with the 
brain. The connecting link appears to contain a branial- 
like substance, which all the leading nerves, from the 
brain to the organs of sense contain, therefore a strong 
sympathetic feeling exists between the heart and the 
brain, and a proportional sympathy through all the 
other organs of sense, which pervade the whole body. 
A sympathy like that of the head member of one family 
affects the whole ; if one eye suffers, the other weeps ; 
if the body is oppressed, or suffers mentally or physi- 
cally, the heart feels dejected, and its pulsations beat 
languidly. The eyes, considered the organs of the soul, 
express their grief in tears. If the brain is disordered, all 
the senses are more or less affected ; the eyes, the or- 



41 

gans of the soul, look disorderly, wild and wandering ; 
the heart mourns by sighs and dejection, and performs its 
functions of pulsation languidly and irregularly, and the 
order and harmony of the whole spiritual and physical 
system is deranged. 

This brief exposition of mental science teaches more 
of the wisdom of Infinity than all the jarring creeds and 
doctrines ever taught by theological colleges or sec- 
tarian pulpits. Therefore, to arrive at the knowledge 
of God, we must first learn science, the original from 
which all true knowledge has been derived, which em- 
braces the primary laws w^hich God impressed on 
universal nature for its self-government, without super- 
visionary direction or control. 

** The sun, self-balanced, round its centre rolls ; 
The power-wheel of nature, giving motion to God's universe." 

It is only through a knowledge of these governing laws 
that we have any knowledge of God, or the rational 
attributes we conceive in him. Judging from cause to 
effect in the uniformity of all things, in producing means 
to accomplish ends ; in providing all his living creatures 
with means to sustain life ; and stamping on his fiworito, 
man, his intellectual image, reason, understanding and 
speech, as a cyma deity to govern this lower world, in 
imitation of his benevolent Creator, thus taking God as 
a true standard in thought, word and deed. All man's 
inventions that do not comport with this standard of. 
God's devising are false, and opposed to the intellectual 
improvement nnd happiness of man, and all such pre- 
suming demi-gods ought to be spurned with contempt at 
4* 



42 

this enlightened day. If popery and slavery were ban- 
ished from earth, the long-wished for EQillenium would 
come, with peace, plenty and happiness to bless the world, 
as no such gross delusions could again be practiced on it. 
But the worship of one indivisible God, with the prac- 
tice of the virtues we, at this more enlightened day, 
attribute to Him, namely : infinitely wise, infinitely 
good, infinitely just, infinitely true, benevolent and mer- 
ciful to all his creatures; the imitative practice of which 
principles being the holy religion of God, would lead to 
happiness here and in eternity. God appears to delight 
in perspicuity, plain to the understanding of man, not 
complex ambiguity, like the bewildering creeds of the- 
ology, baseless in science or reason, but shines clear as 
the effulgence of his divinity written in his splendid book 
of nature in the heavens above and the earth beneath ; 
the mighty sun, first born of Creative power, with his 
planetary system of orbs wheeling their courses around 
his central throne of attraction in harmonious order and 
beauty, holding in his powerful embrace the numberless 
worlds in his solar system, all governed by a few primary 
laws, innate in them for self-government, until the sun, 
the beaming eye of Deity, closes over a dark and dead 
universe. 

*' Then tell the Sun's exhausted face, 
He sees the last of Adam's race 

On earth. Sepulchral clod 
The darken'd universe defy. 
To quench man's immortality, 

Or shake his trust in God." 



43 

A CHAPTER ON SPIRITUAL SCIENCE, 

From the most accomplished literary gentlemen of honor and 

veracity i with a lady Countess of equal attainments^ 

while in a clairvoyant trance. 

The following questions were put to, and answered by 
her, all of which bear the impress of a sound judgment 
and well-informed mind on her waking meditations. 

" Do you sleep ?" 

*^Yes." 

" How long will you sleep V^ 

" Two hundred and forty hours." 

"May any one put a question to you ?" 

" Only one person excepted : but he will not come." 

"Are you well?" 

" Better than ever." 

" Can you be cured by magnetizing ?" 

" Justinus Kerney can only cure me by that means." 

" What are the chief requirements in order to effect a 
magnetic cure?" 

" Purity of soul, good-nature, gentleness, a well-bred 
disposition, and entire resignation to the sick." 

" Is connection in your state necessary for you ? and 
how does it differ from that connection arising from 
magnetizing?" 

" It is indispensable to my life, and difTers herein, that 
those magnetized depend upon the will of the individual 
in magnetic connection with them, while my will remains 
free." 

"IIow does this connection take place ?" 

" By harmony of soul and a powerful will." 

" Who is now in connection with you ?" 



44 

" S by harmony of soul, and Sz by the in- 
fluence of his will.^' 

^^ Was the influence of the latter hurtful to you V^ 

'^ No — but beneficial/^ 

^^ Can such a connection be destroyed V^ 

" A connection between souls may be interrupted, but 
can never be destroyed/' 

'^ Upon what conditions does harmony of soul de- 
pend V 

" In an equal exercise of the powers of the will : that 
is, equal activity in subduing the passions and in the 

exercise of sfood ?" 

> ' 

" Can harmony of souls be dissolved by wicked ac- 
tions V 

^^ No ; because like souls always act alike/' 

'' Do kindred souls ever meet in this life !'' 

^^Not always — which is the reason of the number of 

unhappy marriages ; but most certainly they meet in 

Heaven/' 

" Are Swedenborg's views of Heaven correct ?" 
^^He was a clairvoyant, like myself, but with more 

imagination and less truth/' 
^^ Are there ghosts?" 

^'No — except those of a disordered brain/' 
" Is the future of every man pre-ordained ?" 
" The chief events in his destiny are written in the 

stars ; but their procrastination and his conduct depend 

upon himself/' 

" Is it consistent with Almighty power and justice 

that many men are born simple and with a limited un- 



45 

clerstanding, while others enter life with intellectual 
abilities and spiritual parts ?" 

*' It is consistent with the purest justice; for if the 
simple were not simple, they could and would through 
evil propensities, effect much evil, while the others do 
only good.'' 

*' Do the acts of men depend upon organization ?" 

"Passion and the inclination thereto depend upon 
organization, but acts depend upon the will." 

"Is every man born with like passions and feelings?'' 

"No — but with different. Every man is at perfect 
liberty to sport with his passions at pleasure till the last 
moment." 

" Is the destination of the good and the wicked dif- 
ferent in the next world ? — and does it depend on ac- 
tions?" 

" The reward of actions is different." 

" Is the belief in God and an immortal soul, and in 
rewards and punishments, sufficient for the attainment of 
everlasting happiness?" 

"It is sufficient for those who act virtuously." 

"In a future life, are there purifications of the soul ?" 

" Yes — but fearful and terrible ones." 

" Have animals souls ?" 

" Man alone has an immortal soul." 

" Do belief and infidelity depend on the will of man ?" 

"Yes; otherwise all must believe." 

" Does everything human depend on the will of 

5) 

man : 

" lie can perform everything that pertains to him." 
"What is the greatest sin?" 



46 

" Disregard of our neighbor/' 

" Is not a disregard of ourself a much greater sin, and 
the mother of all evil V^ 

*^ An animal loses nothing if it departs from natural 
instincts ; but man loses everything by vitiating himself 
and sinking to the brute." 

" Is your present state similar to ours ?'' 

*^ Yes : but much purer and more perfect. '^ 

" Would it be good if men v^ere in the same state 
with yourself?" 

" Either all must be so, or none." 

" Were the first men in a state similar to yours ?" 

"Th.y were all so." 

*^ Whereby have they often sunk to the level of the 
beast ?" 

" By an excess of the passions, and indifference to 
conquer them." ' 

" Can man arrive at a deep inspection into the recesses 
of self" 

" Yes, but few have the courage and perseverance to 
do so." 

*' How might men be brought back to the perfect state 
of the first man?" 

" Only by men who possess a comprehensive know- 
ledge of men, and capable of reforming all human 
teaching." 

" Might the present generation be so educated ?" 

^^ Yes, but it must be entirely cut off from the present 
youth." 

"How ought man always to treat his neighbors?" 

"With meekness and calmness." 



47 

^' Does much knowledge create happiness V^ 

" Man loses himself in much knowledge — true know- 
ledge gives a charm to life.'^ 

'* What is the greatest happiness on earth V^ 

" Purity of mind.'^ 

" What is the greatest error in the present method of 
educating youth ?" 

^^It consists in cultivating the understanding too much, 
and neglecting the heart." 

" Are men of the present day better than those of 
old ?" 

" In relation to ancient times — no." 

" Is the majority of men at present good or bad ?" 

" Good." 

" Is the striving after human knowledge good for 
man ?" 

^^To answer this question, we must first know our- 
selves." 

^^ May we judge of a man's character by his outward 
appearance ?" 

^^ We ought not to attempt it, because with the great- 
est experience, most menhav^ been wrongfully judged." 

'' Which are the greatest sins ?" 

*' Those which produce others." 

'1 Are malefactors, who have been neglected by nature 
and education, judged hereafter like others ? Should 
they, before earthly tribunals, share the same fate as 
others ?" 

^* Man judges differently from God. The crime is the 
same." 



48 

" Since good and evil are relative^ how may we dis- 
tinguish the one from the other V^ 

'^ By the voice of God in the heart. ^' 

^' Are we bound to obey V^ 

" We must obey those in authority.'^ 

^^ If our fathers err, and make bad laws^ are their sons 
bound by such obligation V^ 

^' The sons must strive to rectify such errors, but 
without becoming guilty of any transgression.'' 

'^ What do you say to the suggestions that the moon 
is inhabited ?" 

*^ There are inhabitants in the moon, but not such as 
represented by Herschel/' 

^' Can you see living beings in the fire, similar to those 
in the air and the water ?" 

" Yes — they proceed out of the w^ood through the fire 
into the points of the flames, and then into the air/' 

" How do plants and flowers appear to you V^ 

'^ More beautiful and larger than to others/' 

'' Is your present state one of mere perception or of 
feeling?" 

^^It is a state of feeling of the highest degree." 

^* Are you certain that in your present state you can- 
not think or feel erroneously ?" 

'^ No, certainly, because I am truthful." 

*' Whence arises such variety in the conduct of clair- 
voyants ?" 

^^ Because every individual, who falls in or is put into 
such a state, always preserves the character of the pas- 
sions of his waking state, only in a higher degree. 
Goodness, jealousy, meekness, and all other qualities of 
the mind, are in a higher state of perfection." 



49 

" Are Gall's phrenology and Noel's doctrine of man 
correct ?" 

''Yes, except in some particulars, which I dare not 
communicate, that men may be left in uncertainty." 

Do the different answers of clairvoyants arise from 
the different organization of the brain ?" 

" Certainly — for every organ in this state is only 
brought into a higher degree of activity." 

'' Then a truthful and perfect state of a clairvoyant 
must depend upon the perfect formation of the head ?" 

''Yes — hence it is that the state of other clairvoyants 
is full of errors and fancies." 

" Will our future state resemble yours ?" 

" My state now is delightful and exalted, but not to 
be compared with that of eternal glorification. 

"Is our future state corporeal, or, as Swedenborg says, 
spiritual ?" 

"It is entirely spiritual." 

" In a future life how shall we know each other ?" 

"By the personal appearance — by the shape." 

" How many hours ought we- to sleep ?" 

" Till we feel refreshed." 

" Why do you not eat and drink ?" 

" On account of the animals I see in the food and 
drink ?" 

" Have dreams ever any signification ?" 

" They are often the warning voice of God, and may 
be known by their lively impression." 

" Where is the feeling of love, in the head or 
heart?" 

" It is in the whole body." 
5 



50 

^^ Why do you count by hours ?'' 

'^ Because, with me there is neither day nor night," 

^^ Can you control the feelings of others, without 
speaking to them V^ 

" Yes — if I think strongly of them, they will be 
obliged to awake from sleep and think of me.'^ 

^^ Are corporeal evils the cause of your present 
state?'' 

" No. Sorrow of mind, which I have concealed, is 
the cause." 

When in this state the Countess Theresa was able to 
point out the abode of distant persons, their daily pur- 
suits — could read, though her eyes were shut, and gave 
prescriptions for the sick. She expressed great anguish 
a minute before the termination of her state of clairvoy- 
ance, and prayed to God for a continuance of it — but 
exclaimed : 

" It is in vain — thy child is too weak — there is no 
happiness on earth." 

She awoke with glazed eyes, and expressed an in- 
describable delight to find herself again in the arms of 
her family. 



Observations and retrospective view of the philosophy of 
mind J as an appendix to the first subject. 

Favorite man appears to be the last and greatest 
effortof Almighty power, organized and constructed with 
transcendent skill ; obedient in all his members to the 
controlling power of the mind, quick as the electric 



51 

flashes on the wire, the will transfers it to the acting 
nerve, thence to the active power, the muscle, which 
gives action to the whole body, or only a single joint of 
the fincrer. Thus when required the entire energy of the 
body receives the whole effort of the mind; like the 
commanding spirits at New Orleans or Waterloo, when 
the physical and mental powers of body and mind were 
exercised to their full extent ; thus, cause and effect are 
the universal principle, whereby nature performs all her 
operations of matter, mind and motion. Mind is the 
embodiment of all physical and moral perception, the 
mental crucible for analyzing matter and motion, with 
all the constituted elements of nature. Mind is the ori- 
ginal repository of all arts and sciences; the truthful ex- 
position of the laws that govern matter and motion, by 
which man can only arrive at the true attributes of God, 
as conceived through the operation of visible nature. 
Man, being a terrestrial creature, cannot, constituted as 
he is, know anything of celestial things, farther than his 
vision extends around his horizon. This is the limited 
range of man's knowledge, by which his telescopic vision 
extends to the far bourne of Jupiter, with his five mir- 
rored moons, or yet to Saturn — millions of miles farther, 
with his seven mirrored moons to brighten him, equal to 
our little planet. Farther yet, to the supposed verge of 
the solar svstem is Herschel, with six mirrored moons to 
reflect the feeble rays of the Sun, to lighten his jilanet, 
equal to our own. 

These three last planets are believed to be inhabited 
by mortals like ourselves, as Infinite Wisdom designed for 
some purpose, and nothing without use. God appears to 



52 

delight in creating worlds for the reception of his favorite, 
man, whom he has endowed with faculties, the proper 
use of which would niake him happy. This faculty, 
called memory, may be compared to a tablet for receiv- 
ing impressions, as the case requires, a record susceptible 
of being called upon when previous information is re- 
quired ; therefore, it appears astonishing how the memory 
can retain long passed events, and give instantaneous 
response to the sentient mind, and in cases of import re- 
tain it from infancy through life ; showing the essential 
usefulness as an auxiliary aid in the wisdom gnd good- 
ness of the Creator towards the happiness of man. 

Reason may be considered that faculty of the mind, 
to designate man from all other creatures not possessing 
that faculty. Reason appears the acting agent of the 
mind, possessing the powers of examining, comparing, or 
devising means to accomplish ends, or apply causes 
to produce effects, according to previous designs and ar- 
rangements. This faculty of the mind is exercised in all 
the important designs and actions of men ; it is by the 
exercise of this faculty that a General arranges his army, 
in geometric lines and columns, to resist the greatest 
power, and overcome the greatest resistance ; it is by 
this faculty of reason that the able orator arranges and 
systematizes his discourse, to produce the desired effect on 
the minds of his audience ; and, like Cicero, exposing the 
designing villainy of man, and supporting the integrity 
and honor of the virtuous; it is by this faculty of reason 
that the military, civil and geometric engineers accom- 
plish their designs, in the respective branches of their 
sciences ; the former, devising his fortifications to overcome 



53 

resistance ; the second, to plan and devise canals and 
railroads, for the comfort and convenience of man ; the 
latter, possessing the full knowledge of human intellect, 
the science of earth, air, fire and water, all these combined 
in the locomotive, and ocean steam engine, the former 
outfleeting the speed of the swiftest steed, the eagle's 
wings, or the winds of heaven ; the latter, the ocean 
steamer, battling the winds, the waves and vassal ocean. 
Likewise in the more pleasing sensations of the mind, 
such as the soul enjoyments of poetry of motion, dancing 
and music. Here the soul and body both partake of this 
pure, delightful exercise; here the sublime country dance, 
with six couples on the floor, like moving images, glide 
in graceful geometric motion ; here body and soul par- 
take of pure delight, the feet keeping time to heart- 
stirring music, the mind of the dancer dances as. w^ell as 
the body, as all the motions of the body are operated on 
by the mind, but in this case by the soul-stirring notes of 
music ; here the feet keep time to the music. Therefore, 
from the aforesaid observations, it appears obvious that 
the bodily faculties are only communicative of external 
objects to the mind, and that the body or mind can only 
act, after being acted upon by external objects; it possess- 
ing no innate powers of judging, thinking, reasoning, or 
any other faculty, more than the Eolian harp, operated on 
by the sighing winds of heaven ; or the sonorous sounds of 
the organ, until being operated upon by external powers ; 
therefore our bodies only appear as a mechanical ma- 
chine, constructed with transcendent skill, far surpassing 
the ingenuity of man, and even beyond the conception of his 
knowledge in its minute parts ; and that it possesses no 
5* 



54 

innate power of itself to move a single joint of its body, 
any more than Adam, when created under the hands of 
his God, organized and matured in manhood until his 
maker breathed in him the breath of life, and he became 
a living soul, sprung into life, to wonder and adore 
Infinite Goodness for the happy boon of life. 

Although much more might be said on this mysterious 
combination of body and mind, their mystical action and 
reciprocal operation on each other, yet the reader, exer- 
cising his own mind on this mysterious subject, can have 
a more lucid knowledge of the case by study from the 
outlines here given than by written or oral explanation, 
more particularly as all readers ought to have a know- 
ledge of their own powers of body and mind. Men are 
generally most lamentably deficient in this most essential 
and dignified branch of knowledge. 

Having now given a brief delineation of the two main 
principles of the mind — namely, understanding and rea- 
son — we will now proceed to explain the no less faculty 
of speech, produced by articulate sounds of the voice ; 
shaped, as it were, by the united aid of the tongue, lips, 
teeth and palate of the mouth, to articulate words, and 
combine them into language-— the tongue, like the play- 
ing fingers on a piano, modulating the sounds into har- 
monious numbers, to produce the intended effect on the 
minds of the audience. This member of the body, and 
acting agent of the mind, is the most powerful and uni- 
versal in its effect, by discussing subjects of general inte- 
rest, and circulating human knowledge all over the 
world. Wherever the light of science dawns on our 
bewildered race, there the sentient tongue explains the 



55 

unchanging and inevitable laws of God, by demonstra- 
tive science, based on cause and effect, the only true 
leading lines to a knowledge of infinity. 

We shall now close this subject by a brief summary 
of the leading principles of the combination of the senses 
of body and mind ; their action and reaction on each 
other; the external impressions conveyed through the 
bodily senses to the mind, and the mind's response or 
action on the body ; and that the senses and faculties are 
only given as auxiliaries, to aid us in our progress; as 
the elementary principles of science to that of practice, 
or similar to a chemical laboratory, where all the differ- 
ent materials comprising nature are analyzed, and their 
different properties made known. So w-ith the mind, 
which can be made subject to spiritual analysis, as w^ell 
as the natural process of nature, appears self-evident. 
As for the essence of spirituality or matter, we are en- 
tirely ignorant of, and can only judge from their phe- 
nomena or apparent action on each other, and their 
combined action in producing astonishing results, such 
as the physical and mental energies on the field of Wa- 
terloo, which decided the fate of Europe probably for 
centuries. 

If Napoleon had succeeded in that eventful struggle, 
a new dynasty would have succeeded, and his more 
liberal principles infused through the world, superseding 
the brutal influences of Popery, which would have shrunk 
like the ugly bird of night before the heaven bestowed 
light of reason. 

Napoleon, in motive and principle, was a. republican, 
but found the atmosphere of Europe so polluted with 



56 

monarchy that republicanism could not exist in it, and 
valiant France could not stand against the power of 
thrones and pulpits, of priest-ridden Europe. Alas! for 
valiant France. Alas ! for we may never more see the 
glory in her eye she bore when she was free. 

When Napoleon the First shone above the horizon, 
like a star of the first magnitude, eclipsing the trembling 
thrones of European tyranny ; when he humbled his 
Holiness '^ the Pope of Rome," by calling him to Paris 
to assist in his coronation as Emperor of France ; when 
his Holiness sanctified the crown by anointing it with 
oil and holy unction ; after this the Pope expected to 
have the honor of crowning, when Napoleon stepped up 
to the altar, took the crown in his hand, turned to the 
wondering populace, exclaiming, '^By the power invest- 
ed in me I crown myself Emperor of France ;" then 
turning to his beloved consort, taking the crown off his 
own head and placing it on hers, affectionately kissing 
his empress, one of the loveliest daughters of France, a 
spontaneous burst of joy gushed from the delighted mul- 
titude, and closed the coronation ; when all but his 
Holiness, who felt himself degraded as a cat's-paw and 
dupe of the republic of France, which, when the star of 
Napoleon the First sunk, republicanism sunk with it, 
and France was again cursed with Popery in Napoleon 
the Second. 

We shall now close on mental philosophy and its rea- 
soning powers, and state that neither body or mind ap- 
pears to possess any innate principles or powers of think- 
ing, judging, acting, reasoning, or conception of right or 
wrong, truth or falsehood, other than what has been 
learned by observation and experience ; therefore, the 



57 

mind only operates when operated upon by external 
objects, and that the body and mind is a Yiv'mg sen- 
sitive machine, and if not tuned by scientific rules, will 
not produce harmony. Hence the necessity of accom- 
plishing the mind, which is the operating power of the 
body. The human body may be compared to the steam 
engine, constructed solely to be acted upon by the im- 
pulse of its propelling elements, it of itself incompetent 
of producing movement. So with the body, it cannot 
move a single joint w^ithout the impulse of the mind. 
The mind may be further compared to a full tuned organ 
with its thousand pipes, stops, and notes, raising and 
falling from the highest degree of pleasing sounds to the 
mellowest sound of the Eolian harp, as sighed upon by 
the gentle breath of Heaven, dying away on the trem- 
bling wires, lulling the senses into a pleasing state of 
tranquil happiness. 

Thus can the soul be tuned to rapture, by the ever 
changing scenery of a well-informed mind, continually 
progressing in intellectual improvement, for a higer state 
of spiritual happiness in eternity ; thus the joys of a well- 
informed and well-regulated mind, is the commencement 
of happiness through time, preparatory to the state of 
eternal joys of heaven. Truly might Milton's Angel 
Gabriel state to Adam, that God had done all for him, 
all that he could do, consistent with his infinitely wise 
plan of creation. "Do thou thy part, God has done 
his to thee. He has given you body and spiritual senses, 
which, by understrinding and practice on the faculties, 
we can attain all the useful knowledge requisite to our 
happiness in this life, and prepare the soul for a purer 
state of existence in a wished-for eternity.'^ 



58 

In closing this subject, which has occupied many dis- 
cerning minds; yet, from the redundancy of conjectural 
premises and technical terras, bewilder, rather than 
enlighten the mind, so that perusing these voluminous 
systems may be compared to winnowing a pile of chaff 
for a few grains of wheat ; therefore, the sum total of 
human knowledge appears only to consist in the follow- 
ing condensed substance of all the senses, of the won- 
derful combination of body and mind, termed Mental 
Philosophy, or the combined action of mind and body. 

From the most scrutinizing examination of this com- 
plex subject, it is obvious that man is constituted in body 
and mind on mechanical principles of cause and effect; 
and that all bodies in nature are constituted and operated 
on in a similar way ; matter acting on mind, and mind 
acting on matter ; as well as in contact with each other 
when millions of miles apart. Thus the sun acts on the 
earth, the earth on the moon, and the moon again reacts 
upon the earth, thus showing that action and reaction 
are the governing laws of both mind and matter ; and 
yet after all explanation that can be given on the sub- 
ject of mental philosophy, the senses and faculties of 
both body and mind have to be learned, and that all the 
faculties and senses that God has given us are only 
means whereby we may obtain all the useful knowledge 
requisite to this transitory life, to happiness here and 
hereafter. 

The first knowledge a new^-born infant is taught from 
its mother, is to draw its sustenance from the breast; 
next, the eye to notice the light ; next, the soothing 
sound of a mother's voice ; next, gestures or silent 
meaning ; next, Ma or Pa ; next, to grasp in his tiny 



59 

hand and shake his rattle, which he is proud to be able 
to do ; next, the use of his limbs, to proudly walk up- 
right and imitate verbal language. All this can an intel- 
ligent mother teach her offspring in the first year of its 
age, which is equal in practical knowledge to any other 
equal period of its life ; hence the necessity of qualifying 
our daughters in the important duties of wives and 
mothers, as a fortune in the mind of a wife is more to 
be valued than a fortune with a w^ife, and as the juve- 
nile education of a virtuous mother on the minds of her 
offspring is the purest and most durable through life, it 
ought to be the more valued and venerated. 

Thus we see that man is a creature constructed with 
transcendent skill, endowed wuth every faculty of body 
and mind, susceptible of receiving the purest impressions 
from infancy up through life, to raise them next to ange- 
lic nature, or taught by superstitious ignorance to sink 
to the level of the brute creation. 

Hence, again, the duty of fathers, to accomplish their 
daughters to the dignified task of raising their offspring 
for heaven, and prevent the degradation of her own sex 
from the seducements of dishonorable men. Then the 
thoughtless and unjust aspersion of weakness of female 
mind would cease. 

Let us look to the palmy days of ancient Greece or 
God-like Rome, prior to the soul debasing influences of 
popery, held to be the perfection and essence of the 
Christian religion, by its founder and adherents. Rome, 
once the city of the soul, where man and woman vied 
with each other in supporting every word and action, 
and preferred death to the performance of a dishonora- 
ble deed, and then contrast the degrading and brutaliz- 



60 

ing influences of popery, where its pernicious doctrines 
are taught and practiced ; thus showing clearly, that 
man's duty consists in the practice of virtuous actions, 
and not in the dogmatical systems of theological meta- 
physics. 

Lastly, on this subject, let it be impressed on the mind 
of the reader that he who brings posterity into existence 
and neglects the parental duty in the education of their 
offspring, at least so far as to enable them to exercise 
the faculties of reason and self-government, stands in the 
sight of God and man for their delinquency,, and the 
errors that degrading ignorance entails on their posterity, 
and no excuse need be offered in this land of equal rights 
and privileges ; a land flowing with abundance of all 
the essentials of life, and governed by the mild and 
equitable laws of a generous people, in a glorious repub- 
lic, equal to Rome in her palmy days of God-like gran- 
deur, when the name of a Roman citizen was considered 
greater than that of a king. Here, gentle reader, w^e 
shall close this subject wnth the following lines, as appli- 
cable to American Republicans, and the result of a glo- 
rious revolution. 

*' This is our youthful jubilee; 

Our servile years have rolled away, 
The clouds that hover o'er us flee, 

And hail the dawn of freedom's day. 
Fronn Heaven the golden light descends, 

The times of youth are on the wing, 
And glory here her pinion bends, 

And beauty wakes a fairer spring. 
The hills of freemen, lakes and seas, 

Are all in triumph's pomp arrayed, 
The light that points to tyrants graves 

Played round each freeman's trusty blade." 



61 



REASON, 

The test by which all our knowledge is to be established. 

This is to be supported by philosophic principles and 
the judgment of all enlightened men, which is, that man 
is distinguished from all other sublunary creatures as a 
rational being, possessed of senses and faculties far supe- 
rior to any other created being. This faculty of the 
mind, called reason, is known to be the prime acting 
agent and scrutinizing power to examine and compare 
truth from error, right from wrong, or good from evil ; 
to devise means to accomplish ends ; to understand 
causes and effects. It directs the chief general to arrange 
his army according to geometric lines and columns, to 
resist attack and overcome resistance ; it directs the 
geometric engineer, in the construction of his engine, its 
power and capacity to produce the intended result of 
stemming the winds of the tempestuous ocean, battling 
the raging billows, and subduing the vassal seas, and 
thus bringing the elements of nature subservient to art ; 
to employ the lightning of heaven to transfer intelligence 
hundreds of miles distant as quick as thought, to drive 
over the earth, outspeeding the swiftest living thing, the 
fleetest steed, the eagle's wing or the winds of heaven ; 
to direct the military engineer in the construction of his 
fortifications to deaden the effect of cannon balls by the 
oblique angles on which they strike ; to direct the pro- 
per elevation of a mortar to cast a bomb shell into a 
6 



62 

fort or city ; to direct the naval architect to build his 
ships to carry the battle's thunder o'er the vassal waves 
of the ocean ; to explore the bowels of the earth, and 
fires of Mount Etna ; to travel in the aerial car above 
the clouds, and view the gorgeous scenery of the 
heavens and the earth ; to sink in the hydrostatic car, 
and gather the pearls of the deep ocean ; to construct the 
wonderful telescope, to convey vision to the farthest 
boundary, and view Herschel w^ith his six mirrored 
moons reflecting the solar rays of the far distant sun, 
to lighten Herschel equal to our own globe, although 
upwards of one million of miles further distant from the 
sun. 

Who, that understands the wdsdom of the Supreme 
Architect of the universe, would not worship and adore 
infinity? The more -inlfellectual man discovers of the 
wisdom of God's works, the more will he admire, and 
be impressed with the belief, that seeing Infinite Wisdom 
in all things they have yet discovered, evidently tending 
to the happiness of man, and that the finale of creation 
will be an eternal state of happiness to all his intellec- 
tual creatures that are endowed with a spark of his 
deity, (a never dying soul ;) and that reason will support 
the belief on these principles; that we attribute to God 
infinite wisdom, goodness, justice and mercy ; and that 
the errors of mankind chiefly spring from circumstances 
above his control, such as being brought into the world 
often unprovided and uncared for, without the faculties 
of his mind being enlightened, to know his duty to God, 
or his fellow men. 

Further, on the dignity of reason, as being the God 



63 

within the mind. Reason may be compared to the touch- 
stone of truth; the standard and criterion of iudofment: 
the detector of error and delusion, duplicity and priest- 
craft ; the Upas tree, whose deadly influence stupefies 
and degrades man to the level of brute creation. It 
detects fraud, corruption, and tyrannical arbitrary power. 
In short, the reasoning mind is a mental laboratory for 
the analyzation of right and wrong, virtue and vice, 
their good and evil effects on the peace and happiness of 
the world. Reason supports the dignity of every honor- 
able and righteous action of men, and condemns every 
immoral and dishonorable action, that debases the dig- 
nity of human nature. But the crowning glory of rea- 
son is, that ancient and modern philosophers, Jew, 
Christian, Turk and Chinese, counsellors and judges of 
our high courts, senators and governors, with the high- 
est dignitaries of our national government, all invoke 
the intelligent aid of reason on their deliberations, as 
well as judges of the courts of the highest and last 
appeal, pronounces final judgment by the enlightened 
power of reason; and that the common law of right and 
justice, among intelligent nations of men, is based on the 
perfection of reason, and thence it must be the highest 
standard of rectitude in all cases, scientific, political and 
religious. 

Thus far, is a brief outline of the crowning fi\culty of 
the mind of man, called reason, which is opposed and 
cried down by ecclesiastic duplicity, and dogmas of the- 
ology, together with the soul-debiising inlluenre and 
elfects of popery ; a system devised and l)a]iti>^ed in all 
the infernal cunning, cupidity, craft and duplicity that 



64 

hell could invent, or debased human nature could con- 
ceive, to brutalize mankind ; but more especially, lovely 
woman, whom it has wound its debasing coils around, 
soul and body ; commencing their abominations in their 
private confessional of females of ten years old, and 
upwards, married and single. 

This w^as the seductive chain that popery wound 
around the Christian world, and holds yet, in its loath- 
some embrace, half of Christendom 

If the writer's voice was equal to that of Simon Peter, 
surnamed by his Master the Son of Thunder, whose 
voice should be heard and obeyed over earth and Hea- 
ven, he would call for aid to assist in renovating a 
bewildered world, by expelling delusion, superstition and 
bigotry, with all the heathen mythology of the dark ages, 
now^ dressed up in fanciful costume, retaining the image 
and essence of the former ; and if man had been left en- 
tirely free from the false education of interested teachers 
in sectarian doctrines, and apply his own observations on 
the operations of nature, the good or evil effects pro- 
duced, and copy after the good and eschew^ the evil, 
the w^ay sensible philosophers teach themselves, and be- 
lieve nothing that is contrary to reason, sound sense and 
science of the w^orld, w'ould have been better informed, 
and more happy in sound sense and circumstances, thou- 
sands of years ago. 

It is respectfully asked of the intelligent reader if any 
religion or government, based like the law of the Medes 
and Persians, that is, not to be altered or improved by 
the experience of its operation, which is the only true 
test of its utility, or Nebuchadnezzar's golden image. 



65 

the Jews' abominable religion of life sacrifices ; the worship 
of Solomon, with his Pagan gods in his city of abomina- 
tion ; his harems of royal mistresses, guarded and caressed 
by mutilated men, are to be considered rational at our en- 
lightened day ? Our modern religion is more stringent 
in its requirements ; believe in our doctrines and be 
saved ; as there is no name under heaven but that of 
Jesus of Nazareth, w-ho died on Calvary to save your 
souls from perdition. This is the universal doctrine of 
ancient and modern scctarianists, inducing a belief in 
their system, and denouncing all disbelievers. It is as- 
tonishing to see so many delusions practiced on the 
credulous w^orld without guarding against it. True 
religion only consists in the moral duties, which lead 
to happy results ; God evidently willing, that all 
his created family of mankind, should be happy in 
time, as a final passport to eternity ; God having de- 
monstratively given in his works of creation, a criterion 
for human action ; visible in his benign attributes, which 
embodies all the practical duties of human life, namely : 
wisdom, goodness, justice, truth and mercy, the practice 
of which virtues will assuredly lead mortals to happiness 
in time and eternity, this being clearly demonstrated in 
the heavens above, and the earth beneath. The mighty 
Sun, first born of creative power, the vivifying light 
and life-giving, and the operating principle of matter, 
mind and motion, wheeling his mighty orbs around his 
throne in harmonious order and beauty ; from our moon, 
the reigning mistress of earth and ocean, like a faithful 
sentinel, circuiting our globe, thirteen revolutions per 
annum ; regulating our tides and cloudy atmospheres, 



66 

blessing the earth with fruitfulness and happiness of 
man ; or yet to the far bourne of Jupiter, the second 
in naagnitude to the sun, attended by five sateUites re- 
volving around his throne ; or yet passing Saturn to 
Herschel, the outer sentinel of our solar system, requir- 
ing eighty-three years of rapid flight to circle our world, 
attended by seven mirrored moons, to reflect the rays of 
the sun to lighten his planet. 

This, gentle reader, is only a glance at the infinite 
wisdom of the Architect of the universe ; who, by a 
few primal laws of attraction and repulsion, produces 
causes and eff*ects. 

Cause and eff*ect is the grand operandi whereby God 
has impressed in all created nature the laws for self-protec- 
tion, so perfect, that no supervisionary aid like Jesus, 
Simon Peter or the Pope of Rome, is required ; infinite 
perfection being originally and inevitably stamped on all 
God's creation. 

*« To Him, no high, no low, no great, no small, 
He bounds, connects, he fills, he equals all/' 

Here, kind reader, we close on mental science, or 
philosophy of mind ; and if you will give the tenth of 
the thoughtful reflection it has*cost me, the writer be- 
lieves it will make you a better and happier man, and 
wdll now close with the following beautiful lines appro- 
priate here : 

f' Thou, from primeval nothingness, didst call 
First chaos, then existence. Lord, on thee 
Eternity had its foundation : all 
Sprang from thee ; of light, joy, harmony 



67 



Sole origin, all life and beauty thine ; 

Thy word created all, and doth create. 

Thy splendor fills all space with rays divine; 

Thou art, and wert, and shall be glorious ; great 

Life-giving, life-sustaining potentate." 



Cause of the slow maturity of Reason^ Metaphysical 

Theology bewildering instead of enlightening 

the understanding. 

In illustrating this subject, it will be necessary to 
show the powerful opposition to the free exercise of 
reason, in the discussion of religious subjects — although 
rational discussion of all other affairs of human life, is 
admittable. Whether political, scientific or moral, the 
reason being the crowning faculty given to man as a 
standard of judgment, which gives searching power of 
thought in the discussions of all impartial and enlightened 
assemblies of men, whereby to give truthful judgment, 
for or against the nature of the case, yet the strangest 
infatuation of religious bigotry, in not admitting either 
a scientific or rational discussion of the truth, merits 
or demerits of their systems, yet say that their final 
salvation depends upon the truth of their doctrine, 
and what is more strange, that probably not one in a 
hundred does impartially examine the truth or falsity 
of their creed, but receives it as a fanciful mode of reli- 
gion from the mouths of their pastors, who are educated 
more especially in that favorite system of religion they 
intend to teach, and studied the different branches of 
science, all of which, prior to their admission of truth, 
requires infalHble testimony ; such as natural philosophy, 



68 

demonstrative cause and effect, mathematics, self-evident 
or demonstrative. In morals, cause and effect produce as 
convincing proof as the science of mathematics, geometry 
or other branches of scientific knowledge, according to its 
nature ; for instance, evil precept or example invariably 
produce evil effects as well on the doer as on the com- 
munity; and, on the opposite side, virtuous precepts 
and examples, always produce happy effects. Here is 
a clear demonstrative proof, according to the nature of 
the case, as in any of the aforesaid branches of scientific 
know^ledge, there is no complex system of theological 
dogmas inexplicable to the understanding, and that all 
teaching of a metaphysical nature is ambiguous and in- 
comprehensible to the understanding and common sense 
of mankind ; a gross imposition, and ought to be shunned 
by every intellectual reader; discredited and struck out 
of the list of intellectual science, as totally unsupported 
by testimony of truth. 

That metaphysical speculation is the cause of the slow 
maturity of reason, it will be necessary to explain the 
subject of metaphysics as far as inexplicable subjects 
can be explained. Physics embrace all things in the 
material world ; earth, air, fire and water, with all that 
the human eye can see ; of the solar system, from the 
glorious central luminary of attraction, light and heat 
of surrounding w^orlds, to the far bourne of Herschel, 
w^ith his six reflecting moons to concentrate the feeble 
rays of the sun on his planet, thus giving him as brilliant 
a light as our earth, which is more than one billion of 
miles nearer the sun. Physical science likewise embraces 
a knowledge of every creature possessed of animal life, 



69 

including intellectual man, with his God-like powers of 
body, mind and soul. It has discovered all truths yet 
discovered in natural or mental philosophy, which in- 
cludes all that man can know ; it has analyzed the 
four elements of which this world is composed ; their 
component parts, powers, natures and effects, they are 
simply or combined capable of producing. Physical 
science likewise embraces the knowledge of the motions, 
magnitude and distances of heavenly bodies and the 
laws by which they are governed ; cause and effect giv- 
ing satisfactory evidence of truth, to minds that are 
familiar with them. These truths are principles by which 
Infinite Wisdom projected this world, as we universally 
find them applicable to the projection, combination, pro- 
portion, beauty and symmetry of all our ingenious dis- 
coveries, in the application of electricity, magnetism, 
galvanism and mesmerism, and all aerial and aqueous in- 
ventions, too tedious to mention. 

'' For these hath science searched on weary wing 
By sea and shore, each naute and living thing, 
Launched with Iberia, pilot fronn the steep, 
To worlds unknown, and isles beyond the deep, 
Or round the cape, her living chariot driven, 
And wheeled in triumph thro' the signs of Heaven ; 
To bring honne truth, fronn God's own fount of light, 
And banish darkness to the owls of night.'' 

But why should it be necessary to enumerate i)articu- 
lars, when God has laid open his chart of Nature, clear 
and plain to the senses of man's searching powers — a 
book written without ambiguity or dissimuhition, unlike 
the systems of modern theology. 



70 

*' With dark tangled doctrines — dark as fraud can weave, 
Which simple mortals do on trust receive; 
And, like all delusions, wedded fast 
To some false object, hug it in his bosom to the last." 

** Yet from the lips of truth, one mighty breath. 
Shall like a whirlwind scatter in its breeze 
The whole dark pile of human mockeries. 
Then shall the reign of mind commence on earth, 
And springing up, as from a second birth, 
Man, in the sunshine of the world's new spring, 
Will walk regenerate, like some holy thing, 
And cast the veil that hides truth's splendid glance, 
And gladden earth throughout her wide expanse." 

We have now stated scientific truths which are con- 
sidered the highest degree of testimony, showing to the 
reader that physical science embraces all human know- 
ledge that man can know. It is stated that Aristotle, 
an ancient philosopher, embraced all human knowledge 
in natural philosophy such as is taught in Girard Col- 
lege. Theology he considered beneath rational science, 
and so indignant was he with theologians universally, 
that none of them are permitted even to visit or enter 
therein, he knowing the jarring doctrines of Chris- 
tian Europe deluged the earth with blood, as its founder 
truly said : '^ I came not to bring peace on the earth, 
but a sword ; to set at variance a household against 
itself: the father against the son, the mother against the 
daughter, and a man^s household shall be his greatest 
enemy.'' This is Christianity carried out to a letter. 
The seven crusades against the Turkish Mahomet cost on 
each side two millions of lives, and hundreds of millions 
of treasure, destruction and desolation. The orphan's 
wail, the widow's tears, and the gray hairs of age, sunk 



71 

into the grave in blood — the exterminating wars amongst 
themselves until after the French revolution. Chris- 
tianity has reigned with^ a rod of iron nearly nineteen 
hundred years, and the writer predicts that if it rules two 
thousand years, it will have to learn a lesson of milder 
mode and better manneis from our republican government. 
Thus, gentle reader, is given the brief outlines of 
physical science, which embrace all that the limited ca- 
pacity of man can know. We shall now proceed to ex- 
plain what is called in opposition to physical science, 
the shadowy science of metaphysics, which is the sha- 
dows of physical substances ; thus, when you see a natu- 
ral substance, say a man in the sunshine, you can also 
see his shadow. This, recollect, is no part of the 
body w^hatever, it being only the body obstructing the 
rays from the opposite side, that causes the shadow ; 
thus, whenever you hear a metaphysical subject discussed 
from pulpit or college, you can better understand it to 
be the shadow of a substance, as here explained. Meta- 
physics, the doctrine of the general affections of beings ; 
theology, the science of divine things and beings ; 
mythology, the ancient systems of gods and goddesses, 
angels and men. These three distinct systems were 
devised at different periods of the world, and all projected 
on the chameleon system of changing their hues as they 
move in the sun, their bodies still the same ; all aiming 
at one object, viz.: a spiritual speculation, which 
amounts to an enormous merchandise over the world, the 
tenth of which, applied to improve the mental and phy- 
sical system of the world, would make it what God in- 
tended it to be, a Garden of Eden, wherein would reign 



72 

peace, plenty and happiness, each man sitting under his 
own vine and fig tree, with none to make him afraid, 
possessing all the useful knowledge this world can give, 
preparatory to a higher state of intellectual enjoyment, 
in a purer state of bliss. Tliis, gentle reader, is truth, 
as true as ever Solomon or Solon ever told, or the sages 
of Greece or Rome practiced in their palmy days of in- 
tellectual pride and national glory. 

The ancient philosopher Aristotle, heretofore alluded 
to, a profound student in the philosophy of nature, know- 
ing human capacity limited to his own sphere of action, 
being a terrestrial creature, could not erect a system 
of spirituality, or things divested of corporeal substances, 
w^hich would rather perplex than enlighten the under- 
standing ; wisely and humanely embraced all human 
knowledge in his physical science, knowing that the more 
complex and abstruse philosophy, the more obscure it 
would be in its developments; therefore, he wisely dis- 
countenanced metaphysical theology, as a negative to 
true science, as every philosopher and impartial man will 
believe it to be an incubus on the intellectual improve- 
ment of the world, an '^ig'nis fatuus^' to perplex and 
lead the sensitive mind astray. But alas ! mankind is 
more prone to believe ambiguous and incomprehensible 
doctrines than demonstrative truths or rational sense. 
The designing knavery of the world, seeing this, and 
knowing that a grand speculation could be made out 
of metaphysics, therefore started it as a subtle science, 
in opposition to the demonstrative science of physics, 
which is plain to the common sense of mankind ; thus 
making a mundane speculation of metaphysics over a 



73 

deluded world. One-tenth part of this enormous mer- 
chandise, if applied to the education of useful know- 
ledge, would have improved the world, mentally, 
morally and physically, thousands of years ago, into a 
paradise of peace, plenty and happiness, instead of being 
degraded dupes of throne and pulpit, without under- 
standing the rights or dignity of self-government. Mil- 
lions, under the united bonds of throne and pulpit, are 
kept down so poor, that they cannot raise or educate 
their children. What the king leaves the priest unmer- 
cifully wipes off, which gives the last turn of the screw 
on the peasantry of the old world. 

** Yet ye proud lords, unpitying minds shall see 
That man has yet a soul, and dare be free ; 
A little while along your sad'ning plains 
The starless night of desolation reigns j 
Light shall restore the right, by nature given, 
And like Prometheus, bring the fire from Heaven, 
Then to the dust, delusion shall be hurled, 
Her name and nature withered from the world.'' 

Here, gentle reader, is the brief outline of the cause 
of the slow maturity of reason which is the crowning 
faculty of the^mind, as all the knowledge we can obtain 
by our own mental and bodily senses, without the God- 
like powers of reason to direct, arrange, compare, and 
apply cause, to produce intended effect, would but 
answer an uncertain result. Reason may be compared 
to a mariner's chart, his compass and polar star, by which 
he steers his ship through the trackless ocean, to his 
destined port. So with man, compared to the ship, 
understanding being his chart, reason his helm, whereby 
7 



74 

« 

to steer his course through the troubled ocean of life to 
his destined haven of rest. 

Here is given the outlines of the illustration of this 
subject ; brevity being the leading object of the work, 
only as much illustration will be given to each subject 
as appears necessary to impress on the mind of the 
reader a sufficient basis for further self-examination, 
and as a leading line to self-judgment. Self-exercise 
of the mind is the best and most interested teacher in 
all things that relate to our prosperity and happiness. 
It dignifies the man in the estimation of his fellow-men, 
and brings him nigher and fitter to elevated stations in 
this life, and the wished-for spiritual life of eternity. 
We shall now close this subject with a few verses from 
the mind of a deep and penetrating philosopher and poet, 
whose mind soared into the unknow^n regions of space 
in search of infinity, and composed the following poem, 
most congenial to the mind. 

*^ Oh ! thou Eternal One, whose presence bright, 
All space doth occupy, all nnotion guide, 
Unchanged through time's all devastating flight, 
Thou only God ! there is no God beside, 
Being above all beings, Almighty one ! 
Who fill'st existence v^^ith thyself alone. 
Embracing all, supporting, ruling o'er, 
Being whom we call God, and know no more." 



Closing observations to the young reader, for whose more 
especial benefit this book is intended. 

It is lamentable to know how^ destitute the common 
masses of mankind are, on the essential knowledge of 
their own being ; the mechanism of their own body, in 



75 

connection with mind ; their operation separate or com- 
bined in the production of results, either of good or evil, 
as the designing mind may be. The chief education now 
given to the common masses is, as Byron says, ''To eat, 
drink, sleep, w^ork and die,'^ without attempting to under- 
stand the proper use of their own senses, or apply them to 
produce the best results for their own comfort, and gene- 
ral happiness of the world, but merely following the 
barren path of life, although creative power has given 
them every sense necessary for improving their under- 
standincr, and makin<r the best use of life. This is 
caused by the lamentable deficiency in our scholastic 
system, teaching juveniles useless sectarian creeds and 
doctrines of metaphysics and theology, baseless as the 
phantom of a dream, except in the visionary brain of 
the inventor, who makes a grand speculation out of it, 
like the spiritualists of the present day, by teaching 
delusive doctrines, instead of demonstrative or rational 
truths, which is the object of this book. All creeds, 
doctrines, or faiths, not based on demonstrative cause 
and effect, or rational testimony, consistent with the 
invariable laws that God has laid down for the govern- 
ment of all existent nature, whom none but interested 
sectarian religionists support, that mortal man has power 
to counteract the established laws of nature, by a mirac- 
ulous system of religion, opposed to the invariable 
laws of sense, science, and God ; in this republic where 
the good sense of the people is considered the sense of 
God, as the governing principle of republican men, all 
knowing their rights, and daring to defend them, against 
the tyranny of throne and pulpit, who have ever been 



76 

in league against the interests of the common people, 
by their vanity, pride, and extravagance, the king claim- 
ing one-tenth to support an extravagant government of 
hereditary priests, and pensioned peers ; royal popery 
living on the honest labor of the people ; the clergy 
exacting in tithes, weddmgs, christenings, lost time, and 
expense in attending church on holidays, confession and 
forgiving sins ; equal at least to one half of the poor 
man's earnings, thus depriving two-thirds of their sub- 
jects of the means to educate their chiklren ; their 
daughters put out at six and seven years old, as servants 
to the rich ; their sons made lackeys, soldiers or sailors, 
in the army and navy ; the rest hewers of wood and 
drawers of water ; thus, like the sharks, living on the 
smaller fish as their rightful prey. 

This may be considered a true picture of monarchical 
and ecclesiastical governments. These are they which 
hold probably nine-tenths of their degraded victims in 
mental and physical bondage from the cradle to the 
grave. A monarchy, without being united to the 
church, could never stand — the church to scheme and 
pray for the throne ; the throne to fight and force unjust 
demands at the point of the bayonet. This is a sample 
of monarchy and ecclesiastical tyranny united, not unlike 
two foot-pads, one holds the pistol at your breast, the 
other takes your purse. The only difference between 
these two ways of robbing is, that the government par- 
ties make laws whereby they can legally rob — and the 
bandits rob independent of law — the priest that excites 
the robbery claims a share of the booty to expiate the 
sin, and the successor of Simon Peter, the prince of rob- 



77 

bers, is called a pope, states his authority from Heaven 
to rob or murder independent of human or Divine law; 
to annul contracts of marriage ; to absolve the allegi- 
ance of people from their government to commit all the 
crimes in the callendar of iniquity and yet not sin ; that 
he is the vice-regent of God over earth and Heaven; to 
bind or loose whatsoever he wills, in earth or Heaven ; 
that his judgment is infallible and accountable to no be- 
ing, in Heaven or earth, and that he reigns supreme on 
earth until Jesus of Nazareth, the illegitimate son of 
Mary, wife of Joseph of Aramathea, shall come wuth 
his angels to raise the dead, and call the world to judg- 
ment. 

This is the assertion of a mortal man called the Pope 
of Rome, the beast with seven heads and ten horns, the 
type of the great whore of Babylon, that made the earth 
drunk with the wine of her fornication and adultery, 
and on whose forehead is written mystery and blas- 
phemy. 

This is considered the cause of the slow maturity of 
reason, although it is the highest faculty of sense, given 
to man to know right from wrong, good from evil, truth 
from falsehood, or dupHcity from sincerity, honor and 
candor. 



78 



THEOLOGY, 

Teaching mysteries of God^ in jarring systems of faith and 

practice. 

It may be considered a visionary attempt to raise a 
standard of truth, against a world of delusive doctrines, 
taught by theological science, since the days of Cain 
and Abel, who differed in what kind of sacrifice would 
be most acceptable to God, as expiation for sin. Abel 
took a fatling of his flock, w^hich flamed towards Hea- 
ven, apparently acceptable to God, but Cain's being less 
volatile, did not flame so high, which he conceived was 
an unfavorable omen, and, in a fit of jealousy, slew his 
brother ; hence the delusive doctrine is preached in 
every pulpit, that there is no remission of sin without 
the shedding of blood, which, according to Christian 
construction, Jesus was the last sacrifice off*ered up on 
Mount Calvary to propitiate God for the sins of all those 
that believe in his new doctrine, and damnation to those 
that disbelieve ; similar to the penalty announced against 
worshipers of Nebuchadnezzar's golden image, thus 
closing the long delusive system of Jewish life sacrifice. 

In comparing the science of nature with that of theo- 
logy, the former requires the strongest demonstrative, 
self-evident, or rational testimony, prior to its admission 
as truth ; but no such testimony is asked or off*ered in 
support of religious doctrines ; although they say their 
salvation depends on its truthfulness ; yet devoid of sci- 



79 

ence, sense or reason to support their creed, and only 
hold it until some new fanciful system is offered humili- 
ating to common sense ; and although we may have 
improved in all other branches of useful knowledge, yet 
we know no more of a rational system of religious wor- 
ship than Abraham of old when he offered up his son 
Isaac, and cheated his God by substituting a ram in his 
stead. This delusive story was devised as a prophecy 
to carry Abraham's posterity into power, when they 
should be numerous enough to exterminate and route 
the fair kingdoms of Canaan, as they eventually did, in 
the days of Moses and Joshua. 

It is recorded in English history, that during the 
reign of King James, when the Christian world was 
warring against each other about their religion, the 
British Parliament, debating on the most advantageous 
system of religion to adopt, (Protestant or Papist) the 
king jocosely stated, that so long as he had the power 
of appointing bishops and judges, he would make that 
law and gospel which pleased him most, thus showing 
the chameleon phases of sectarian religion to be only an 
appendage to suit interest or fancy. 

It is not a century since England claimed to be the 
most enlightened and religious nation on earth, with an 
hereditary board of bishops and crowned peers, always 
voting on any measure to suit their own dignity, inde- 
pendent of the general good ; who gave the casting 
vote of war on the Protestant brethern in America, and 
carried it out with savage vengeance by Hessian boors 
and savages of the forest, the bishoj)S praying through 
a seven years' desolating war for the success of his 



80 

majesty's arms against the American rebels. This is 
another sample of theological doctrine and practice. 
Gordon^ the noted historian, states that the clergy, 
combined with the monarchical governments, are the 
continual authors of war,* famine and massacre, and 
the great instruments of driving peace, plenty, virtue, 
truth and happiness out of the world. Kill all! criod 
the bloody priest Arnal, at the head of his Christian 
army, and accordingly the city of Beazor, containing 
two hundred thousand souls, was carried by storm, and 
the people butchered, chiefly dissenters from what is 
called the '^ Holy Church of Rome.'' It would extend 
the bounds of this subject, to explain further than a few^ 
principles of the diversified subjects of this book chiefly 
to awaken reflections on the degrading duplicity, prac- 
ticed on the world by knavish teachers and jarring doc- 
trines of delusive theology. 

Moses' system of religion and worship was based on 
the antediluvian life sacrifice expiating sin, and carried 
out his scheme of w^ealth and greatness by twelve lead- 
ing chiefs of his bandit army conquering the fair king- 
doms of Canaan. Moses issued his orders as the orders 
of God. Jesus stated his orders as the incarnate God, 
encased in his mortal body. Mahomet, seeing Moses 
and Jesus had executed miracles, wisely adopted revela- 
tion, by which he carried himself and adherents into 
power, each governing in their day nearly one-third of 
the entire world. This shows the chameleon systems of 
sectarian religion throughout historic record, each party 
waging exterminating war on each other about the 
supremacy of their fanciful doctrines of religion ; all, all 



SI 

as destitute of a pure spiritual worship as Nebuchadnez- 
zar's worship of the golden image^ or Abraham offering 
up his son Isaac. 

Man, being terrestrial, knows nothing of celestial 
things only through the works of his Creator, the laws 
of w-hich are made known to us as a standard of recti- 
tude to govern our actions, in conformity to the benign 
attributes of God. God being infinite in all his ways, 
in wisdom, in goodness, in truth, in justice and in mercy, 
he based his laws on principles to govern the world and 
all it contains, man excepted, he being left a {ree agent, 
endowed with the power of perception to know good 
from evil ; God evidently creating all his universe for 
good, evil only consists in the violation of the laws of 
good, thus showing conclusively that God is the creator 
of all good and man the creator of all evil, and the first 
production of evil w^as by wicked Cain slaying his 
righteous brother ; so that God is exempt from the 
creation of anything but good, and man the only creator 
of moral evil ; and all who impute their evil designed 
actions to God — such as iVbraham, Moses, Samuel, 
priests, prophets and kings, including Jesus and his 
oflRciates, up to the great emissary of Satan, the Pope 
of Rome — are designing hypocrites, wolves in sheep's 
clothing, deceiving the people to hold on to their unjust 
gotten power. 

This may be considered a sweeping charge against 
delusion, but the writer challenges the world, before a 
competent tribunal, to disprove the general contents of 
this book ; and gives here an epitome of universal ethics, 
divested of sectarianism and bigotry, clear to the general 



82 

understanding of men, not heretofore presented to the 
public. 

The Creator appears in all his works to delight in 
perspicuity, and man in deceitful obscurity. All matter 
and motion is governed by a few principles invariably 
perfect, from the mighty sun, w^heeling its planetary orbs 
around His throne in harmonious order, out to Herschel, 
on the verge of his solar system, w^heeling his rapid 
flight of fifteen thousand miles per hour, requiring 
eighty-three years to make a circuit around his world ; 
thus showing God's wisdom in his w^orks of creation, 
namely, wisdom, goodness, justice, truth and mercy, the 
practice of w-hich principles embraces all human duties 
to make man happy in time and eternity. This is the 
only true revelation God has given or ever will give to 
man ; all others are deceptions of knavish men for sinis- 
ter motives. 

Infinite Wisdom appears to delight in designing and 
executing all its w'orks in perspicuous simplicity, using 
only a few primary principles to govern the universe in 
harmony. But man seems to delight in acting in dis- 
cordance to the laws of government and religion — the 
more complex, the more difficult to understand, and 
more expensive to illustrate its ambiguities, thus bewil- 
dering instead of enlightening the understanding ; hence 
the necessity of one universal system of ethics, imitative 
of the aforesaid attributes of oar infinitely w-ise Creator. 

Our revolutionary sages saw^ the necessity of revising 
a more equitable code of laws and constitution to govern 
their new republic, wiser than Solomon or the world 
ever knew, they cast off the tawdry appendages of mo- 



83 

nBrchical government, and took the attributes of God 
for their guide, and based their laws on these benign 
principles of phihmthropy, the greatest good to the 
greatest number ; and if, after they had projected their 
happy system of republican government, they had revised 
our heathen theology, as fabulous as the hundred headed 
giants that made war against heaven, or the story of the 
conception of Mary by an incarnate God, by the name 
of the angel Gabriel, an emissary of the Jewish conclave 
of one hundred and tw^enty designers, led on by Zacha- 
rias the high priest, counsellor Joseph and John the 
Baptist, to receive a new Jew^ish religion on the sinking 
Mosaic life sacrifice, and carry themselves and party to 
a new Jewish destiny, by which they succeeded under 
the delusive guise of Christian popery, centering their 
power in an earthly demi-god, called a pope, like Mel- 
chisedek of old, king and high priest of God forever. 
Such is the demi-god the Christian" world worships 
to day. 

It is astonishing to see how tenacious mortals hold to 
long cherished delusions. After the destruction of Solo- 
mon's temple by Titus, the Roman general, the Romans 
being desirous to know the Jewish history, law and 
government statistics, brought home as part of their 
trophies the book of their kw and religion. The gov- 
ernment had it translated into modern language, and 
found it to be what monarchists wanted — a standard 
book, to hold power in the hands of kings and priests 
forever; and hired venal priests to preach it, as the 
standard book of faith and practice, and which was the 
standard until the American revolution dissolved the 



84 

charm of the government of kings and priestcraft, by 
wisely placing government in the voice of the people, to 
appoint their own rulers and make their own laws, ac- 
cording to a well-digested constitution and national code 
of laws, all acknowledging the people's will to be the 
sole law of a republican government, in imitation of God's 
government, the greatest good to the greatest number, 
the only true rational government on earth. 



85 



ON THE 

RELIGIOUS CHANGES OF THE WORLD, 

JEW, CHRISTIAN, AND MOHAMMEDAN. 

This subject embraces three heads, distinct in time, in 
government, in religion and morals, which is to be dis- 
cussed according to sincerity, commencing with the 
Jewish nation or people, anciently called Israelites, 
descendents of Abraham, son of Terak, of the gene- 
alogy of Sham, son of Noah. This nation of people 
being taught by their priests and prophets, that they 
were God's peculiar people, and that God had come 
dow^n from Heaven, and sw^ore to Abraham, that on the 
account of his offering up his only son Isaac, as a sacri- 
fice, he would bless him and multiply his seed as the 
stars of heaven, and the sand on the sea shore, and that 
his seed should possess the gates of his enemies ; he 
w^ould give him the land of Canaan for his posterity, and 
that the Lord should fight and subdue his enemies. 
Although human sacrifice w^as the most inhuman anil 
wicked practice and example that demons could invent, 
it was practiced by Abraham's posterity to a fearful 
extent ; and the example is practiced in Eastern nations 
to this day. Such is the ell'ects of ignorance on be- 
nighted minds of our race, more prone to believe any 
false miraculous tale than plain truth, and re|Tesenting 
God as the cause of wickedness. Alas! why should 
8 



b6 

not man make use of his own senses, instead of those 
of demon preachers of miracles, bewildering the world, 
and instigating crime, instead of rational truth or com- 
mon sense. What has the fabled traditions of the dark 
ages of the world to do with the enlightened age of 
scientific knowledge or common sense. If men wuU not 
educate their posterity better, they will never reform the 
pulpit, nor wdll the pulpit teach the world good sense. 
Melchisedek, the high priest of God, without father or 
mother, beginning of days, or end of time, w^ho met 
Abraham returning from slaughter with the spoils of a 
conqueror and claimed by his prerogative the tenth of 
the spoils. The young virgins being valuable spoil, 
are not condemned to slaughter but are conveyed home, 
therefore, the high priest only required his share of the 
persons, the petty plunder he did not w^ant. Here is a 
sample of the dark ages of the w^orld, by what are 
called the ancient people of God. What example or 
precept can we take at this enlightened day from w'hat 
is called holy writ ; will man never be competent to 
judge for himself, as to the right and propriety of human 
action, but believe hireling teachers, interested in leading 
them astray ? 

God is an indivisible spirit, and wants no theatrical 
scenery, but the worship produced by the effects of con- 
cious duties to ourselves and fellow creatures, virtuous 
actions being the incentives to spiritual w^orship, more 
grateful to the heart and to heaven than all the sound 
of theatrical music or heathenish melody in the world, 
as mechanical music only pleases the ear, the music of 
the grateful soul pleases God. 



87 

It lessens the dignity of men to believe or credit any- 
thing said or done by such vagrants, whose delusive 
actions in this enlightened republic would consign them 
to the penitentiary for obtaining property by false pre- 
tences. These are the fellows that are held up by the 
Christian pulpits as examples and teachers of their fellow 
men, represented to be the salt of the earth, the burning 
and shining lights of the world, and that the wisdom of 
the w^orld w^as foolishness, and that their knowledge is 
the true knowledge of God ; monstrous blasphemy 
against God, and insult to the intellectual senses of man, 
more daring than Nimrod, Miller, or Mormons; knavish 
fanatics of the present day, w^ho found in our enlight- 
ened republic guUability enough to make a speculation, 
even out of shrewd Brother Jonathan, w^hose calcula- 
tions in dollars and cents are more correct than in Jesu- 
itical intrigue, now raising its hydra head in our gor- 
geous republic, in sight of our protestant capitol, equally 
insidious, and as much to be dreaded as the inquisition 
in Spain, Bastile in France, or private dungeon of popish 
crime and cruelty. Fellow-citizens, brothers of our 
happy republic, sons of noble sires who bafllled crowned 
and mitred tyranny, be mindful of the noble stock from 
Avhich you sprang ; sages and heroes of the revolution 
who pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred 
honors in behalf of the holy cause of freedom, whose 
heroes fought, bled, and died for their country, to leave 
this glorious w^estern world a free heritage for their pos- 
terity, as well as an asylum for the o|)pressed sons of 
European tyranny. In your hands is this goodly heri- 
tage, transmit it to posterity unimpaired througli time; 



88 

be circumspect and vigilant ; let no insidious foes erect 
their prison houses of hell on your virgin soil, under the 
garb of Christian popery ; the many-headed monster, the 
curse and crime of a degraded v^^orld, a double monar- 
chy, claiming temporal and spiritual power over the 
souls and bodies of their votaries ; their Jesuitical Nun- 
neries, styled in America, Sisters of the Holy Heart ; 
but Avhere they are known in Europe, called Popish 
Harems ; sinks of virgin purity and deadly crime, seal- 
ing the lips of their illicit issue in death; sinless by the 
authority of Simon Peter. 

This blasphemous assumption of Jesus transmitting 
power to Peter, and Peter transmitting power to whom 
he will, that whatsoever sins ye remit are remitted to 
you, and whatsoever sins ye retain shall be retained, 
shows the danger of Christian Popery. From the best 
authority, there are one hundred and twenty millions of 
catholics in the world, and including dignitaries and 
subordinates, two millions of regular grades of priests 
all under the most awful oaths, to perform all the obli- 
gations that tend to the interest of the church of Rome, 
their initiation oaths for the church interest always to be 
paramount to all other obligations that the business of 
life might require. But concealments of crimes and for- 
giveness of sins is the common business of a Roman 
priest ; therefore, popery holds out the greatest induce- 
ment to commit crime, by the assumed powder of for- 
giving the sin ; and that in popish countries the priests 
inculcate no virtues, or the practice of morals. Here 
souls are sealed into the abomination of popery , inex- 
tricable in their private confessional. That Jesuitism 



89 

merged chiefly into Christianity carrying with it their 
superstitious rites ; such as forgiving sins in their private 
confessionals as a substitute for Aaron's scape-goat. 
A vast improvement in sexual love is the confessional, 
which has wound its insidious chain round the loveliest 
part of God's creation, and ensnared them in its coils, 
a plan which all the ingenuity of man, demons and 
devils could not exceed, to brutalize and degrade the 
world ; and from the awful binding initiating oaths to 
use all energy to gain converts to their faith. A young 
female can no more resist these confessors, than can the 
fluttering bird resist the charm-snake, and every young 
female that enters into that infernal den of pollution, is 
sealed, soul and body, in the pagan abominations of the 
church of Rome. 

A parallel drawn between darkened chaos and high 
meridian splendor is not greater than what Rome w^as in 
her days of splendor, and what Rome is now. Here, 
you are to understand that although we have been 
speaking of '' Christian Popery," it was introduced and 
established by Jewish leaders and Jewish agencies, and 
ought to be rather styled Jevi/ish than Christian 
popery, as all the chief leaders, apostles and disci- 
ples established their new religion on the Jewish 
basis ; deceptive miracles, trickery, cunning and fraud, 
with all the chicanery that Moses, Aaron, Joshua and 
Caleb practiced in enriching themselves by the plunder 
and massacre of conquered nations; this procedure, Jew- 
ish Christianity improved and practiced upon, until the 
so called Lutheran reformation ; merely lifting the veil 
off the face of Jesuitical Popery, descending from some 
8* 



90 

of the grossest abominations ; yet embracing in all their 
shattered creeds the essence of Jewish Popery, called 
Christianity. 

This is a startling exposition of a long cherished 
delusion, but by impartial judges it can be proven 
true to a letter, by their standard book called holy 
writ. There is no holy writ but God's Book of Na- 
ture, where all things are tested by demonstrative or 
self-evident testimony. The sun rises and sets by the 
revolution of the earth on its axis, the seasons roll 
around their annual course, bringing in their train, fruits, 
flowers, seed time and harvest ; the heavens give rain, 
and the glorious sun, the burning eye of Deity, gives 
light and heat to vivify surrounding worlds, all moving 
in harmonious order, by invariable law^s that Infinite 
^ Wisdom has impressed on all nature ; here we can learn 
true wisdom from the source of truth ; here we can dis- 
cover truth from falsehood and right from wrong. The 
sciences of nature teach us the true sciences of God, 
enough for man's limited capacity to know ; and, what- 
ever designing fanatics may say, of possessing super- 
natural power, commits blasphemy against the dignity 
of God. 

It w^ould extend this subject beyond the intended 
limits, to explain further than a few examples of the 
Jewish leader of this people. Moses and Joshua may 
be stated the founders of the Jewish dynasty, which is 
carried up by Bible history to within about four hundred 
years of the Christian era, to the reign of Augustus, the 
Roman Emperor ; when a man named Jesus, who as- 
sumed the agency of God on earth to establish a new 



91 

Jewish religion, divested of the ancient worship of sac- 
rifices, substituting in lieu thereof, disciples and apostles 
to preach his new doctrine to his nation of people, as his 
authority only extended to Jew^s ; thus showing that he 
had no general interest in the world, but that selfish de- 
signing interest, the ruling principle of the Jews, such 
as, '' Sell what you have and follow me and you shall 
have treasure in Heaven. ^^ This deception w^as prac- 
ticed on the credulous by the disciples and apostles, as 
they traveled over the world, until illiterate Peter raised 
himself from a fisherman, to be Lord Bishop of Rome, 
wath the subordinate dignitaries of his church ; but 
shortly after the elevation of himself and party, being 
accused of firing the city of Rome, which conflagration 
continued seventy hours, suspicion rested on himself and 
his party, Peter was crucified, Paul beheaded, and a 
fearful persecution commenced against the then so called 
Christians. 

Jesuits are the most insidious wretches in Christendom, 
and have been expelled from nearly all the civilized na- 
tions in Europe, as the pests of society, disturbers of the 
peace, and violaters of civil and religious liberty, and 
here in our peaceful republic these pests of the old world 
are permitted to pollute our virgin soil by their popish 
seraglios ; our Protestant daughters inveigled into their 
prison-houses of infamy in sight of our national and state 
Capitols ; our peaceful citizens insulted in our great 
cities by Jesuit ruflians, carrying a popish flag inscribed 
'' The Americans shall not rule us," although they took 
the oath of citizenship, under the guise of mental reser- 
vation, still are true to the Church of Rome ; and from 



92 

the knowledge of history and their ambitious thirst for 
power, if ever our happy republic should be undermined 
like ancient Rome, it will be by Christian popery and 
her insidious Jesuits now selecting cities to erect popish 
seminaries, and sow the seeds of popery in our republic 
of generous thoughts, liberal sentiments and equitable 
law^s ; w^ell then might Americans exclaim, '' O, Colum- 
bia, my country, nation of warm hearts and generous 
souls, how art thou fallen and debased." 

We shall now close this subject on the Jewish nation, 
prior to their new religion, which, contrary to their de- 
sign, merged into Christianity and Mohammedanism ; 
commencing with Moses, the founder of their sect and 
nation, his character as a leader and lawgiver. 

Here is a melancholy but true picture of the founders 
of the Jewish nation of people after their liberation from 
Egyptian bondage. The murder on the night preceding 
their departure from Egypt, the slaying of all the first 
born of man, hacking the horses and cattle, borrowing 
clothing, jew^els, rings, bracelets, gold chains, and so 
forth, might be justified as their means of liberation. 
To prevent immediate pursuit w^as a master act of gene- 
ralship, equal to the emergency, and if Moses and 
Joshua had committed no greater acts of retribulary 
measures, they might be considered blameless ; but the 
wicked massacre and plunder of civilized nations, will 
be an eternal stigma on the Jewish leaders, kings, priests 
and prophets. It must be admitted that Moses Avas in 
every respect qualified for the liberation of his country- 
men, being educated by his foster mother, princess to 
King Pharaoh, of Egypt, in all the learning of his day, 



93 

such as mental science, the guide to every other branch 
of useful knowledge, but more particularly that of as- 
tronomy, the mother of astrology, astreo-theology, the 
laws of motion and attraction, the tides and necromancy, 
chicanery and sophistry in general ; by which arts he 
performed all his pretended miracles, without any in- 
fraction of the invariable laws of nature, which no 
created being in Heaven or earth has power over God 
to do. It is no difficult matter for a juggler to perform 
deceptive tricks before an ignorant and superstitious 
people, who are more prone to believe miracles or tra- 
ditionary fables than scientific truths. The present 
visionary speculators, such as Millerites, Mormons, 
Spiritualists, Mesmerists and Clairvoyants, are all effects 
produced by natural causes acting on mind and matter, 
living or dead bodies, such as the subtle fluids, gases, 
electricity, magnetism and galvanism, producing differ- 
ent results in proportion to the different combinations of 
strength and action ; that which acts on visionary minds 
such as fanaticism, lunacism, ignorance and duplicity, 
its baneful influence over a too credulous world, and 
when this failed in its effect, sacrilegious duplicity, mas- 
sacre and wholesale plunder over the w^eak ; tyrannical 
might and not right was the leading principles of the 
Jewish nation throughout their reign, which continued 
about twelve hundred years, after which it merged into 
different nations, but chiefly Mohammedanism, which 
religious creed only teaches the worship of one indivi- 
sible Godj more congenial than all trinitarian or j^lurality 
of God-heads in Christian or heathen theology. 

Having, therefore, chiving in part the character of the 



94 

Jewish founders and leaders of the first nation of people 
after the deluge, whose history has come to us in written 
language, written by their own historians sounding their 
own praise, telling their own traditionary fables, with 
power to perform miracles — and the most wonderful 
miracle-maker was always considered the greatest man, 
both in Jew and Christian theology. Moses commenced 
the Jewish dynasty as a profound magician, whom the 
Egyptian magicians, being over-matched by him, stated 
he possessed the power of God, by which assumption he 
ruled about three millions of souls by an army of six 
hundred thousand men, by w-hich he and his general, 
Joshua, conquered and plundered the most improved 
nations of the w^orld. Joshua improved on Moses^ plan, 
by causing the sun to stand still a whole day at high 
meridian, until he gained the battle, as it is written, 
" The Lord fought for Israel.'' This is the ridiculous 
manner in which Jewish history is given, and by w^hich 
the people are duped of their natural senses by the belief 
of miracles and false prophecies. If an historian was to 
give the truth of any event at the time that superstition 
and belief in miracles prevailed, he w^ould have been 
stoned as an innovator, unqualified to v/rite history. 
This, and such like tales in the Old and New Testament, 
are termed by pulpit orators, holy writ. From the in- 
crease of population over the world, at this time proba- 
bly one thousand millions of human beings, and in mon- 
archical governments one-tenth of the proceeds of human 
labor go to support the established church for preaching 
fabulous doctrines. The general government requires 
an equal amount to support their desolating w^ars and 



95 

extravagant modes of living, thus leaving the industrial 
part of the world a precarious and scanty subsistence, 
without means to educate their offspring ; hence, the 
lamented state of more than one half of the old world, 
and if half of the church tithes were spent in teaching 
useful knowledge, like Girard's College, or high schools, 
such as the good sense of the people now require, then 
this world w^ould be a paradise of pleasure, then would 
come the millenium — one people, one creed and one 
Heaven for the righteous, and a merciful God for the 
errors of mankind. 

This is a plain, unvarnished statement of what the 
world now is and what it may yet be, when men are 
educated in the truths of scientific know^ledge, which 
are the truths of God. Man being a twofold being, 
a cyma deity to work out his own perfection, having 
been endowed with faculties sufficient to know his duty 
to himself, his fellow man, his country and his God, 
who has done all for him that Infinite Wisdom could do 
consistent with man's accountability of free agency, 
therefore, God in his infinite wisdom has done all things 
wisely for thee ; oh, man, do thine. 

From these introductory remarks we shall proceed to 
draw more distinctly the parallel lines between Jewish- 
ism, Christianity and Mohammedanism, and pass an 
impartial judgment on each. We shall here state a fur- 
ther exposition of the general character of (he Jewish 
people and their leaders. Numbers xxxi.: Moses' order 
of war and disposition of captiVes and spoil. Now, 
therefore, kill every male and every woman that hath 
carnally known man, but the women which have not 



96 

known man, keep alive for yourselves, and keep without 
the camp seven days after your return and purify your- 
selves, and after you shall come into the camp. And 
the commanding officers stated to Moses that they re- 
turned the number of the army without losing one man, 
showing that a greater premeditated massacre and rob- 
bery was never committed on an unoffending, unresisting 
and wealthy nation of people. It appears that this de- 
moniacal massacre was done without any other cause 
than that a nation of people called Midianites, who 
Moses called idolators, whom some of the Israelites took 
some of their daughter for companions, this being con- 
sidered a sufficient cause to exterminate that nation of 
people, man, woman and suckling at the breast, except- 
ing maiden virgins, for the use of the conquerers. Here, 
gentle reader, is another melancholy picture of the per- 
secuting spirit of the Jewish leaders; here the Lord, it is 
stated, always fought for the Israelites except when the 
enemy was successful, but when successful he was to re- 
ceive a share of the spoils ; which was in this case six 
hundred and seventy-five sheep, seventy-two beeves, 
sixty-one asses and thirty-two virgins, with sixteen 
thousand seven hundred and fifty shekels of gold, inlaid 
with diamonds and jewels, ear-rings, bracelets, chains 
and tablets ; all to be given to Moses and Eleazer the 
priest, as an atonement to the Lord for the conquering 
army, all of which Moses and Eleazer brought into the 
tabernacle before the Lord. Now, gentle reader, heave 
a heart sigh and a pathetic tear for the wickedness of 
mankind. What precept or example can we take from 
the sayings or doings of people in these early days of 



97 

superstition, prejudice and partiality, where dissimulation, 
envy and covetousness were the ruling passion of priest, 
prophet and people. 

A difference of opinion in religious doctrines or modes 
of worship was considered a sullicient cause of enmity or 
persecution. One of the great curses of the world was 
king combined with priest-craft and hereditary succes- 
sion. Sometimes a boy, eight or ten years old, tutored 
by a wicked or designing mother, without the controlling 
power of legislative or judicial wisdom ; often the boy- 
king would make w^ar on a neighboring kingdom by 
breaking down their images or places of worship, and 
he, finding he w^eakened instead of strengthening his 
kingdom, would build it up w^ith some appendage more 
senseless than the first ; showing that neither king nor 
people had any sense of the science of a wise govern- 
ment ; and if we look for precept or examples as a stand- 
ard of human action we will be as they were, a nation 
of king and priest-ridden dupes, senseless and degraded 
slaves. Remember, fellow citizens, of this happy re- 
public, that your revolutionary sires and heroes were all 
scholars, philosophers and statesmen, such as never here- 
tofore blessed the world, men who united their energies, 
their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honors in the 
holy cause of freedom ; thousands sealed it in the field 
with their blood as an obligation to God in behalf of the 
freedom of their beloved country. Our venerable sages, 
the Continental Congress, whom a nobler council of 
men God never stimulated to glorious action or more 
glorious results. We read of the sages of Greece, their 
wisdom and generous spirits, of ancient Rome, but greater 
9 



98 

sages are here thundering out the denunciations of God 
against tyranny and the dishonorable actions of men, and 
supporting human dignity by imitating the works of 
God. Here is a brief subject for the contemplating 
reader, a contrast between the dignity and brutalizing 
actions of men. View such, moralists, statesmen, phi- 
losophers, philanthropists, lovers of God and men, sup- 
porting the dignity of his species through the medium 
of God's attributes ; then cast your mind into a Romish 
confessional, view a lecherous priest, under the bonds of 
celibacy, confessing his female penitents of all ages 
above nine years, married and single, assuming the 
power to forgive sins, and, by an act of jugglery, called 
transmutation, changing himself into the virtue of God, 
to ask any immodest question that his sensual inclina- 
tion may suggest, and using the privilege of the apostles, 
in the ^^ laying on of hands.'' Now, kind reader, in the 
search of truth, you are to pass your own judgment ; 
whether you believe different from the writer, that a 
female penitent can no more escape pollution by her 
confessor than the fluttering bird can escape from the 
jaws of the charm snake. 

The confessional may be truly considered the mystic 
key to popery, by whose insidious wiles it wound the 
chain of delusion around the world. This deception of 
forgiving sins by the priests, has been practiced since 
the earliest period of time in different ways ; by burned 
sacrifices, by human victims, by Moses in the wilderness, 
by a scape-goat, by money, and, at the present day, by 
the purchase of tickets, called indulgences, at the me- 
dium price of about twenty dollars per week to the con- 



99 

gregation. There is no religious set of worshiping peo- 
ple that we read of, but the people called Quakers, but 
what, in one way or another, practice and pay for 
the forgiveness of sins, some once a day, some only 
once a week, some quarterly, some annually. Popish 
indulgence can, at this day, be purchased for life, the 
sum proportioned to the age and circumstances, like 
insurance offices. 

The people called Quakers are the only religious de- 
nomination who have divested themselves of all external 
theatrical, heathenish pomp, pride or show. Their wor- 
ship generally consists in silent meditation or spiritual 
communion with God, with occasionally a moral lecture 
to their young audience on self-government, of word and 
action, thus uniting a bond of amity in precept and ex- 
ample, which is a combination of all the duties of human 
life. 

Further statements to show the tyrannic and inhuman 

orders of Moses, vjhen any of his orders were 

disobeyed. 

When Israel abode in Shittim, some of his people as- 
sociated with the dauo;hters of Moab, a neiixhborinir 
nation of Midianites, and Moses ordered his judges to 
take the heads of the transgressors and hang them up 
before the sun to turn awav the ano-er of the Lord, 
which was obeyed ; but a chief of Israel, in this case, 
seduced a Midianite woman, daui^hter of a Midianite 
chief, to be with him in his tent at the time of the mas- 
sacre ; and Phineas, the grandson of Aaron the high priest, 
took a spear and went into the man's tent and thrust 



100 

him through the body, and next the innocent woman 
with his spear through her belly, and for this cowardly 
murder Moses advanced Phineas to the dignity of a high 
priest, because he was zealous to make atonement to 
the Lord for the sins of Israel. Here is another 
example of the wicked orders of a man whose his- 
torian states his doings and sayings w^ere inspired by 
God. What confidence can we place in the judgment, 
sayings or doings of the unenlightened ages of the world 
when they attribute all their wicked actions to the order 
of God, to clear themselves of crimes, and, if they mis- 
carry in their designs, attribute it to the sins of the peo- 
ple. This is what the pulpit states to be holy writ, the 
book of God as a criterion standard of our enlio-htened 
day, where the light of science and reason only teach 
true knowledge, and any authority of human action that 
teaches the reverse ought to be considered delusive and 
false. 

Fellow citizens of our happy republic, remember your 
revolutionary sires, their virtues, their philanthropy, and 
their wisdom in devising a constitutional government, 
wiser than Solon or Solomon ever knew, encircling in 
its embrace the precepts, examples and seeds of an ad- 
miring world, all conceived in their own minds, or in 
part selected from the sages of Greece and Rome, phi- 
losophers, statesmen and scholars, and such enlightened 
source ; unlike the selfish contracted monarchies of the 
world, where superstition, bigotry, tyranny, king and 
priestcraft were promiscuously blended into a heteroge- 
neous-like chaos, before its organization into harmonious 
order, by the Supreme Architect of the world ; our go- 



101 

vernment, like the solar system, moving around its cen- 
tral attraction, holding in his embrace its satellite, re- 
volving in harmonious order. 

Another sample of Jewishism. 

Samuel the prophet sendeth King Saul to destroy 
the Amalekites. Now go and smite Amalek, and en- 
tirely destroy man, woman and suckling, ox, sheep, 
camels and ass. Here again, heave a heart sigh 
and shed a pathetic tear for the wickedness of man in 
the early state of nature, flifore the lights of scientific 
knowledge or mental reason enlightened his darkened 
mind. We may with as much consistency take precept 
or example from a school-boy at this day as what the 
pulpit calls holy writ. Why should the darkened ages 
of superstition be referred to as a standard of action at 
the present enlightened day, when longer experience 
and more mature judgment in everything that relates to 
the comforts, enjoyments and happiness of man is more 
fully discovered and understood. 

Further on Priests and Kings. 

Among the seven hundred wives that Solomon took 
was a princess, daughter of King Pharaoh, who was 
unable to give a princely dower. Pharaoh made war on 
Gaza, a city of the Canaanites, killed and plundered the 
inhabitants, burned their city and gave Solomon as a 
dower the plunder obtained, and although Solomon 
could preach and moralize, yet he silently accepted 
his wife's dower, the price of massacre. Here again, 
pass your judgment on the common practice of Jew- 
9* 



102 

ish nations up to the days of the wisest and greatest 
of all the Jewish kings. Further comment is left for 
the reader. 

11. Kings, ii. 

Elijah the prophet being old, Elisha the prophet en- 
vied him his honor and station, and asked his master for 
a double portion of his spirit before the Lord would take 
him up to heaven ; and as both were walking along the 
shore of Jordan, Elisha reported that his master Elijah was 
carried up to Heaven in a fiery chariot, and granted him 
his request, by throwing his |||mtle to him as he ascended, 
and by virtue of the mantle he obtained the spirit of 
prophecy. Here is again a case for the reader's judg- 
ment, by comparing the judgment of this intelligent day 
to the interested, ambiguous report of Elisha. Accord- 
ing to our criminal code of laws, which is, if a person 
disappears in a mysterious way, and any other person is 
discovered to possess any personal property, such as 
clothing, mantle, cloak, coat, or anything clearly identi- 
fied as belonging to the missing person, and no satisfac- 
tory account can be given how they came into the per- 
son's possession, strong suspicion of the guilt of the 
murder rests upon him ; and as Elisha and his master 
w^as acknowledged walking on the bank of the river, 
Elisha murdered his master by drowning, and took pos- 
session of his mantle, which, at this day, would consign 
him to the penalty of the law. 

The way that the prophets made kings. — II. Kings, ix. 

Elisha called a boy of the children of the prophets, 
and said, take this box of oil, go to Ramoth-gilead and 



103 

look for Jehu the chief captain, and call him into an 
inner chamber, and pour it on his head, then open the 
door and flee. This is the way these vagrant prophets 
duped the ignorant world. 

King David represented to be a man after God^s own 

heart. 

And David warred and wasted the children of Am- 
mon, and took the crown from the king's head, that 
weighed a talent of gold and precious stones, and set it 
on his own head, and brought the people out of their 
cities and cut them to pieces with saws, axes, iron har- 
rows, and roasted them in kilns, and returned to Jerusa- 
lem with exceeding much spoil. This is one instance of 
the general character of a Jewish king, said to be the 
best and greatest of their kings, which to this day the 
Christian pulpits quote, cursing his enemies. This sample 
is only meant to draw the attention of the reader to self- 
reflection, until a fuller exposition is given. 

I. Chronicles^ xx., xxii. 

And King David left to his son Solomon, to build a 
temple to the Lord, one hundred thousand talents of 
gold, and a thousand thousand talents of silver, brass 
and iron without weight, and all manner of gold, silver 
and brass unnumbered. Let the reader here remember 
that this immense wealth was the price of the rapine, 
blood and slaughter of the surrounding nations of people, 
most inhumanly massacred and tortured after being con- 
quered. Wliat example are we to take from the early 
ages of the world, when might and not right was the 
prevailing practice? 



104 

Republican freeman, the eyes of a bleeding world are 
looking to your impartial and enlightened model govern- 
ment. Take reason and your own rational sense to be 
your guide, spurn sectarian doctrines and superstitious 
teachers, who basely bewilder instead of enlighten your 
understanding. If your revolutionary sires had taken an 
example from any nation or government, past or present, 
except from the pure source of their own rational sense, 
you would have to-day been king and priest-ridden slave ., 
like the old world. It is wonderful to see the unanimity 
of our revolutionary chiefs and leaders, all true republi- 
cans, except King John, a monarch in heart, and the only 
stain on the bright pages of revolutionary history, except 
Arnold the traitor. Whosoever will not do the laws of 
kings, which, by hireling priests and prophets are repre- 
sented to be the laws of God, no matter how unjust or 
wicked they may be, judgment shall be executed on 
him speedily ; death, banishment, confiscation of pro- 
perty, or imprisonment in dungeons for life generally. 
Now, republican brethren, what think you of the laws 
of God, as spoken through the oracle of pope, priest, 
prophet or king ? It ought to be accounted blasphemy 
against God and the common sense of man. 

Isaiah, xxviii. — The priests and prophets err through 

strong drink, they are swallowed up in wine, and 

stumble in judgments 

Here is a horrid description of God given by their 
prophets — God forms the light and creates darkness, 
makes peace and creates evil ; thus teaching that Infi- 
nite Wisdom creates in man all his evil and wicked ac- 



105 

tions. This induces man to commit crimes he may 
falsely conceive to be instigated by God, or how could 
man commit the extermination of his fellow man for 
plunder and robbery, like Moses, Joshua, Samuel, David, 
and all the Jewish leaders. 

Isaiah, Ivi., Ivii. 

His description of the priests and prophets called 
watchmen. They are all blind, dumb, ignorant, greedy 
dogs, which can never have enough ; they have chosen 
their own ways, and their souls delighteth in abomina- 
tions. Isaiah was one of the best of the Jewish prophets 
and preachers, yet although a sensible moral preacher, 
by describing God to be the instigator and cause of 
man's evil actions, gave a deleterious impression on the 
minds of his people, the Jews being taught by their re- 
ligion, as well as the Christians, that God gave them 
their Divine laws, which led them like beasts of burthen 
to the slauirhter of their fellow men without consultincr 
their own judgment on the rationality of their actions, 
thus continuing in a state of pupilage from the cradle to 
the grave. 

Jeremiah, ii., v. 

The priests and pastors that handle the law know it 
not and prophecy by the devil. 

Jeremiah, iv. 

My people are foolish, they have no understanding ; 
they are wise to do evil, but yet to do gooil they have 
no knowledge; commit adultery with their neighbors' 



106 

wives, and assemble in troops in harlots' houses ; the 
pastors are becoming brutish, and their flocks scattered. 

Jeremiah^ xxiii. 

The prophets commit adultery, walk in lies, strengthen 
evil doing ; they speak a vision of their own hearts and 
not of the Lord. 

Lamentations y iv. 

The sins of the prophets and the iniquities of the 
priests have shed the blood of the just ; polluted them- 
selves so that men could not touch their garments. 

Ezekiel, xiv. 

Oh, Israel ! thy prophets are like foxes in the desert ; 
they have seen vanity and lying divinations, that the 
Lcird sayeth, I have not spoken. Does not a sensible 
man teach that every man ought to improve his under- 
standing, to know his duty and to do it, independent of 
hireling preachers, w^ho preach the most fashionable 
doctrine for the highest pay, like any other profession, 
where self-interest is the leading motives. 

Ezekiel) xx., xxii., xxxiv., xxxv. 

Your priests have violated the law, shed blood and 
defiled themselves with idols, they oppress the stranger, 
vex the widow and the fatherless, commit lewdness, 
discovered their fathers' nakedness, and humbled her 
that was set apart for pollution ; commit abominations 
with the neighbors' wives, defiled his daughters and 



107 

thine own sisters, take gifts to shed blood, usury and 
greedy gain, they eat fat, clothe with wool, and rule with 
cruelty. 

Hosea, vi. 

They work iniquity and are polluted with blood. As 
troops of robbers lie in wait, so the company of priests 
murder in their way, consent and commit lewdness with 
their whoredom, Israel is defiled by giving a boy for 
a harlot, and sold girls for wine, taking gold and silver 
and goodly things into their polluted temples ; chant to 
the sound of the viol, and invent instruments of music, 
like to King David's ; drunk wine in bowls, and 
anointed with chief ointments. 

Micaky iii. 

Ye princes of the house of Israel, who hate the good, 
and love the evil, who consume my people, chop them 
in pieces as for the pot ; and he that puttelh not into 
thy mouth ye make war against him. Therefore, for 
your sakes, Jerusalem shall become heaps, and your 
temple-house as a forest. 

Hahakkuk, ii. 

Wo unto him that giveth his neighbor the bottle to 
make him drunken that you may look on his nakedness, 
the Lord shall turn on you for such shameful doings. 
The princes are like roaring lions, their judges like 
wolves, gnaw the bones to the marrow, her prophets are 
treacherous, her priests have polluted the sanctuary and 
done violence to the law. 



108 

Malachi reproveth the people and teacheth good doctrine. 
Have we not all one father? hath not one God created 
us? Why do we deal treacherously with our brother, by 
profaning the covenant between the wife of thy youth, 
w^hich made you one, that you might seek a goodly 
seed ? therefore take heed to your spirit, to not deal 
treacherous w^ith the wdfe of your bosom. 

On the dedication of Solomon^ s Temple and his sacrifice 
to the Lord* — //. Chronicles , vii. 

And Solomon offered a sacrifice to the Lord, two and 
twenty thousand oxen, one hundred and twenty thou- 
sand sheep, and the altar of the temple being too small, 
he used the court-yard of the temple, as room for the 
performance of this vast sacrifice and w^aste of human 
food, and at that time, Solomon held his feast and sacri- 
fice fourteen days, and he sent the people away blessing 
him for the liberal pageantry, for consuming so much 
meat, the support of their own existences. Alas I for 
the w^ant of wisdom in King Solomon, and those that 
call him wise. The drink offerings were also propor- 
tioned to the meat of the sacrifice, from the poor woman 
with her couple of pigeons and pint bottle of wine, to 
the thousands of hogsheads of wane consumed at this 
dedication of a temple built chiefly by the massacre and 
plunder of the surrounding; conquered nations by his 
father King David. What precept or example ought 
we to 'take at this enlightened day, from the practice or 
example of the dark ages, of a priest-ridden and super- 
stitious world devoid of rational understanding on any 
philosophical or political branch of science w^hatever. 



109 

Spurn the preacher who would set examples from such a 
source. Here is a cursory view given to form a general 
impression of the Jewish nation, said to be the peculiar 
people of God, with the only pure system of religion on 
earth, given by the inspiration of God ; and even com- 
municated verbally to Abraham and Moses in succession 
throughout the Jewish dynasty ; a system of delusive, 
inconsistent, superstitious idolatry and sensuality, co- 
mixed with the sprinklings of morality. 

This gorgeous world of matter and motion was given 
to man with sufficient senses to comprehend its laws and 
harmonious motions and beauty, as an imitative example 
to learn wisdom, to make wise laws, to govern human 
actions whereby to live in united harmony and happiness, 
as members of one universal family of God's creatures, 
which is clearly in his power to do. But alas ! evil and 
designing men have devised false and delusive systems, 
for base and selfish motives, causing strife, debate, deso- 
lating wars, massacres and plunder on each other, like 
demons let loose on a bewildered world, and planted 
sorrow where God had planted joy and happiness. 
This, if you peruse the history of the world, you will 
have to acknowledge is true, and lend your aid to unde- 
ceive a bewildered world. There is no apparent re- 
demption of man's emancipation from delusion and error, 
but the united sense of the common people, as your hire- 
ling preachers will never undeceive you, their profession 
being to support delusion in all its chameleon phases and 
forms, so long as the bewildereJ peoi)le will j^ay them 
for it. The industrial class, the pay of which is the 
most generous, pay at an average of ten per cent, of 
10 



110 

their labor to be taught traditionary fables^ baseless as 
the phantom of a dream, instead of useful knowledge. 
The science of nature, which is the true science of God, 
the dignity of the soul of man to know himself, is the 
nearest approximation to the knowledge of God he can 
learn, as it brings in its train all the other branches of 
true knowledge, that man can know ; therefore, 

" Know then thyself, presume not God to scan ; 
The proper study of mankind is man.'' 

The previous statement of the general character of the 
Jewish nation, w^ho, as their sensible preachers told 
them, would be scattered and drove over the world for 
their wickedness and cruelty on their neighboring na- 
tions, as their hand was on every man's neck not of their 
ow^n superstitious creed, and that every man's hand 
would be on their neck; a fitting reproach of every 
civilized nation on earth, which in the natural operation 
of cause and effect, verified the result, ^^ evil to them 
that evil doeth." 

We shall now commence a report of the character of 
the Christian founders and leaders throughout the final 
establishment of their religious system, doctrines and 
worship, giving several instances of Bible, Grecian and 
Roman history ; chiefly of all their great men, whose 
virgin mothers conceived their first-born w^ithout the 
concurrence of man ; this chicanery w^as a common prac- 
tice with the priesthood throughout time, up to the pre- 
sent day, they claiming spiritual powder of giving or pre- 
venting fecundity to virgins or married -women at their 
choice, by the spiritual power of transforming their body 



Ill 

into that of God ; so that any female can deny her con- 
ception by man, and, like the Virgin Mary, attribute it 
to God. 

Genesis, vi. 

Then the sons of God saw that the dau^rhters of men 
were fair to look upon, and took them wives, and bare 
children, which became mighty men of renown. 

** Thus those angelic youths of old, 
Who burned for nnaids of mortal nnould, 
Bewildered, left the glorious skies, 
And lost their heaven for women's eyes." 

Secondly. — In the days of Homer, the immortal father 
of poets, it is stated that the youth and beauty of Troy 
and Greece annually went up to Mount Ida to view the 
other world, whose green carpet nightly drank the dews 
of Heaven. Here the youths and maidens sang and 
danced, here Jove viewed his happy mortals, and be- 
came so enamored with his own beauteous creation that 
he came down and transformed his choice into his own 
embrace ; here is a direct simile of Mary the w^fe of 
Joseph of Arimathea. 

Judges, xiii. 

Thirdly. — There was a Danite whose name was Ma- 
noah, whose wufe was barren; an angel told her that 
she should conceive and bear a son, to deliver them out 
of the hands of the Philistines, and the angel appeared 
to her out in the fields, he looked like a man but had 
the countenance of an angel, and did not tell his name; 
and Manoah told his wife if he appeared again in the 



112 

field to invite him home, which she did and told her 
husband, who invited him to dine on a kid, but the an- 
gel would not eat, but requited the kid to be a burned 
offering to the Lord, and as the flame ascended to Hea- 
ven the angel ascended in it and appeared no more. 
This is another spiritual conception of married women, 
similar to those in popish confessionals. This birth w^as 
a judge of Israel named Samson. 

L Samuel, i., ii. 

Fourthly.— At this time there was an Ephraimlte 
named Elkanah, who had a wife called Hannah, who 
was barren and it grieved her ; and she went up yearly 
to the house of the Lord to sacrifice, and the young men 
and sons of the high priest Ely committed lewdness with 
the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle 
w^ho came to worship, and after they had eaten and 
drunken, Hannah made her petition known to the priests 
for a son, and her prayer w^as heard, and she conceived 
and bore a son named Samuel, and gave him up to Ely 
as long as he lived. Here is another conception by 
spiritual means, and this Samuel became a prophet of 
the Lord, and a wicked man. 

We shall here pass over numerous similar cases of 
spiritual conception by maids and barren women, in hea- 
then and Bible history. When any designed revolution 
was to be accomplished, something miraculous was con- 
sidered by the prophets as necessary to excite the atten- 
tion of the credulous, as the means to its completion, all 
similar in effect to that of Mary. 

History informs us that in the establishment of the 



113 

Roman empire, one of the wealthiest nobles supplanted 
and possessed his brother's kingdom, and consigned his 
brother's only daughter to become a vestal virgin, and 
to hopeless celibacy for life. This vestal virgin being 
met in a grove by the god of war, with whom she was 
with child, her wicked uncle, for fear of his ill-gotten 
power, on her delivery of two twin boys, condemned her 
to be burned, and have her twins thrown into the Tiber, 
but they, before being drowned, were rescued by one of 
the king's herdsmen and brought home to his wife, and 
raised up as their own. Here is a contrast between the 
merciful herdsman and the wicked king ; yet, in this 
case, the spiritual issue was successful, her twins becom- 
ing kings of Rome. Mary's spiritual issue only succeeded 
to a crown of thorns and the scaffold, instead o/ becom- 
ing king of the Jews, and Mary, a prophet of a fond 
husband's love and home, cast on the pity of her son's 
favorite disciple, John. 

We shall now proceed to show a deep design in the 
change in the Jewish government, which their kings, 
priests, prophets and ambitious men kept in a continual state 
of war, marauding and plundering neighboring nations, 
their abominable heathen mode of worship sacrificing 
their fattest oxen, sheep and domestic animals, often 
causing famine by wasting the meat that God created for 
man's sustenance, the repeated destruction of their tem- 
ples, with internal discussions, all required a new dy- 
nasty of religion and government ; and as the downfall 
of the nation seemed to approach, and as all former re- 
volutionary changes of religion or government was car- 
ried into effect by the chicanery of knaves, they could 
10* 



114 

only succeed with superstitious people, and the Jewish 
nation being ripe for any change for the better, believing 
it could not be w^orse ; the story of the miraculous con- 
ception of Mary, by a new discovered deity call a Holy 
Ghost, and that her infant should save the people from 
their sins ; and the prophets prophecied that her son 
would be for the rise and fall of many, and that he 
should be king of the Jews ; which report caused King 
Herod to order a massacre of all male infants around him, 
born about that time, from two years old and under. 
All kinds of tricks, deception and murder were con- 
sidered justifiable to carry any political or religious 
object into execution, at that time, by the Jewish 
rulers. 

This, like the miraculous story of God swearing to 
Abraham that his posterity should possess the wealth, 
power and grandeur of the world, were similar in their 
operations of massacre, plunder and confiscation of pro- 
perty. Imprisonment in dungeons for life was carried 
out with desolating effect by both Jew and Christian 
governments. If you have read history generally, as 
wrote by impartial men, and you pass rational judgment 
thereon, according to philosophical principles, and the 
invariable laws of nature, which are the infinite law^s of 
God, you wull acknowledge this a plain drawn picture 
of a bewildered and much abused world, where God has 
planted joy^ but evil designing man has planted sorrow. 
After having shown several instances of miraculous con- 
ception, similar to that of Mary, wife of Joseph of Ari- 
mathea, who denied the legitimacy, of his wife^s son 
Jesus, he being induced to live with her some time, and 



115 

she bore him children, but they separated, she following 
the destiny of her son, until his crucifixion in the third 
year of his ministry, which was short and violent, he 
suffering death on the cross, in the thirty-third year of 
his age, when his mother w^as cast husbandless and 
homeless on the pity of John, one of the apostles of her 
son Jesus. 

This new Jewish religion was conceived in sin and 
baptized in iniquity, and carried out by the disciples and 
apostles and recording evangelist preachers all over the 
Eastern world ; after that they reported their master's re- 
surrection, that he was seen ten days amongst his disci- 
ples, convincing them of his identity by the spear w^ound 
in his side, and the prints of the nails through his lasce- 
rated hands, as being nailed to the cross, the w^ounds 
yet unclosed, and the last time he was seen was at the 
sea of Tiberius, directing his disciples to catch fish and 
discoursing with them to feed his sheep. This is the 
final declaration of John, who does not state anything 
of Jesus' ascension, nor is there sufficient testimony given 
or anything said or done by Jesus, his evangelists, apos- 
tles or disciples, which w^ould be admitted before a high 
court of justice, or men of rational sense or science. 
The temple that Matthew states was rent in twain by 
an earthquake, w^as seen by thousands after the cruci- 
fixion in all its perfection ; there was no eclipse of the 
sun, to darken the earth, on record, although Josephus, 
the historian, who lived there at the time does not re- 
cord anything worthy of note ; he merely states that 
there was a man crucified in Jerusalem, named Jesus, and 
that his sect averred he was a God, and that he rose 



116 

from the dead, and that some of his party were there 
yet, so that all the miraculous stories, told by the evan- 
gelists and disciples, are not noticed or corroborated by 
any but themselves, who made a grand speculation out 
of it, and a most stupendous trade of merchandise over 
the world to this day. 

We shall now proceed to test the validity of the say- 
ings and doings, reported of Jesus and his votaries, com- 
mencing with Jesus' imitation of Moses, being forty days 
and nights on the mount, before he commenced his mis- 
sion as the representative of God ; and, like Moses, to 
establish a new religion for his countrymen the Jews, as 
his commission only extended to them. It is reported 
that he was led up by the spirit into the wilderness, 
where he fasted forty days and nights, tempted by the 
devil, and that the devil took Jesus up and set him on a 
pinnacle of the temple, and advised him to cast himself 
down ; if he was the representative of God the fall could 
not hurt him, yet Jesus did not comply with satan's 
order, as the pinnacle of Solomon's temple was about as 
high as our gas pillar, in imitation of Moses' fire-light, 
on our capitol at Washington. Satan then took him up 
to an exceeding high mountain, showing him all the 
kingdoms of the w^orld, (the earth then must have been 
a small place, for him to have seen over it,) and offered 
him all he saw, if he w^ould worship him ; this Jesus re- 
fused to do, but told satan to worship God ; and satan 
hearing that Jesus assumed to be God, refused to w^or- 
ship him ; therefore this ridiculous fable is believed by 
millions, as an introductory excitement to the illiterate 
and credulous world. From the commencement of Jesus' 



117 

pretended mission, which was short, turbulent and vio- 
lent, his language was unedifying, undignified, contra- 
dictory, evasive and dubious, (which charges will be 
here supported by the sayings and doings of himself and 
votaries.) 

Jesus^ Sermon on the Mount. 

*' Blessed are the peace-makers, for they shall be 
called the children of God. I come not to bring peace 
on the earth, but a sword ; to set at variance father 
against son, mother against daughter, and a man's foes 
shall be of his own household."* Here is a drect 
contradiction in sentiment and language. Here is a 
blessing and curse that he was to bring on the world of 
man. Here, again, is another contradiction : '^ I am not 
come to destroy men's lives but to save them : no man 
can be my disciple except he hates father and mother, 
wife and children, sisters and brothers, and his own life, 
can come to me." Here is a senseless impossibility re- 
quired; who can hate those that we are bound by the ties 
of nature to love. " He that loveth his life shall lose 
it, and he that hateth his life in this world shall have 
eternal life." This is dubious and incomprehensible. 
*^ I pray not for the world, but for them given me. I 
am only sent to the Jews, the descendants of Abraham, 
the favorite children of God. I cannot of myself do 
anything; as I hear I judge, and my judgment is cor- 
rect, as I seek not mine own will, but the will of my 
Father who hath sent me. I and the Father are one, 
he who seeth me, seeth the Father ; the Father hath 
given me all power, all that He hath is mine." Who 



118 

can reconcile this language to common sense ? If Jesus is, 
as he states, the son of a supreme God, why then wor- 
ship a Trinity ? The Jews and Mohammedans worship 
one supreme, therefore, according to Jesus' doctrine, 
they all worship him. Although the Jews, Mohammed- 
ans, and Unitarians, all spurn the idea of what they call 
a woman God. The Catholics are the true Trinitarians ; 
their chief adoration is paid to Mary, styled Empress of 
Heaven, Queen of Angels, and Mother of God ; next 
Peter, who became Pope of Rome, with the transferred 
power from Jesus, over heaven and earth, so that what- 
ever he binds on earth shall be bound in heaven, and 
whatever he looses on earth, shall be loosed in heaven ; 
and what sins he remits, shall be remitted, and what 
sins he retains, shall be retained. Thirdly, the spirits 
of the Apostles and Saints constitute their Tribune of 
God, thus making all their divinities saints. 

Jesus transferred his power given him by his Father, 
to Simon Peter, who transferred it to the Pope, who is 
worshiped as the Catholics' male deity. Here, again, 
is as great a chaos of absurdity in Christian Popery, as 
can be found in fabulous theology ; and that chaos, com- 
posed of all the jarring elements of nature, before God 
organized them into harmony by His infinite wisdom, 
was not greater than the jarring elements of Christian 
theology, and the universal bewildered w^orld of reli- 
gious creeds and doctrines, as viewed in a philosophical 
mirror. Here is basis for penetrating thought. 

We shall now expose a few delusive miracles, said to 
have been done by Jesus. One of the first John relates, 
at a wedding in Galilee, where water was made into 

# 



119 

wine. It appears that this wedding was of the poorer 
classes of people, who are fond of good living, but 
who could not afford to buy wine to treat their guests, 
who were numerous, besides Jesus and his conclave ; 
therefore Jesus directed six w^ater-pots, containing two 
or three firkins apiece, filled with water, and ordered 
the servants to carry them to the governor of the feast, 
who found it to be good wine ; here was wine enough, 
according to calculations, to make one thousand people 
drunk. The motive and example of this story had, up 
to this day, a most deleterious effect on the morals of 
young people, and could not have proceeded from a 
w^ell-designed mind. The poverty and degradation of 
the old world is more to be attributed to their spiritual 
teachers than to their tyrannical governments, more 
particularly the Roman Catholics, whose abominable 
religious duties require so much of their time and money, 
at weddings, christenings, confirmations, and other rites 
too tedious to mention. 

Next, raising to life the daughter of Jarius. 

And Jesus put them all out except the father and mo- 
ther and two or three of his disciples, all interested in 
the trick, and he took the maid by the hand and she 
arose. This may be considered a fair sample of all 
miracles of raising the dead, as there was no proof that 
such deceased persons were laid out, and that persons 
could see that they were actually dead but the word of 
the intriguing party. Jesus' brothers censured him 
sharply with duplicity and fanaticism, and threatened to 
confme him — they disbelieving in any of his deceptive 
tricks, and told him that if he performed any such things 



120 

to show them to the people openly; and Jesus, finding 
that he could not succeed where he was known, sent his 
apostles off to teach and preach his miracles and doc- 
trines where they could not be so easily exposed ; and 
gave them ^ower to perform all his reported miracles; 
as his Father had given him power, supreme in Heaven- 
and earth, so he gave them power likewise, more par- 
ticularly to Simon Peter, and gave him the keys of 
Heaven, to open and shut to whom he will ; and the 
illiterate Simon Peter, who swore fealty to his master, 
finding their visionary dreams like to perish, foreswore 
his master three times, and took up with an abandoned 
w^oman of the town, and out of whom, Jesus is said to 
have cast seven devils. The premeditated miracle of the 
resurrection of Jesus, although the Jews averred that the 
disciples stole his corpse on the second night after he was 
laid in the sepulchre and buried him in the earth. Here 
again, your own judgment is required whether to believe 
the Jewish report, which is probable and possible, or 
the miraculous story of the interested delusionists, which 
is both improbable, and, according to the established 
nature of the laws of God, impossible. The laws of 
nature are the innate principles which govern all created 
existence except man ; he being endowed with sense and 
faculties to be a self-governor of thought, word and ac- 
tion, is held accountable to the laws of God and his 
country, as a free agent, to know and do good or evil. 

A short comment on one or two more of the miracles 
of the apostles after their master^s ascension. 

Although Peter being the roughest swearing apostle 
of the twelve, yet JeSus chose him, as being the shrewdest , 



121 

ko take the lead in carrying out the design of establish- 
ing their new doctrines, and he received the highest hom- 
age by obtaining the keys of Heaven to refuse or admit 
entrance therein. He was to be the chief crowned judge 
in Heaven, to judge the twelve tribes of Israel, as well 
as lord of lords and king of kings, whilst on earth. After 
he received the Holy Ghost, he was so filled with virtue 
that diseased persons, passing by in his shadow, or 
touching%is clothes, were instantly healed. This may 
be considered the miracle of miracles, the cap-stone and 
improvement on all former miracles. His person was re- 
presented to be so holy, that the wind of his mouth, the 
touch of his hand or the shadow of his body, raised the 
dead, cast out devils, and cured all diseases, and gave 
lawyer Paul, 'power by proxy, to perform all such mira- 
cles. This may be considered a fair sample of the delu- 
sion practiced on a superstitious, ignorant and bewildered 
world, from the earliest pages of history to the present 
^ay. 

Brief Recapitulation^ Summary ^ and close of this 

subject. 

The first part of this subject gives a general impression 
of the Jewish nation of people, their laws and religion, 
of which all nations have more or less, from the most 
enlightened, to the worshipers of Juggernaut in former 
times. The downfall of one nation appears to be the 
basis on which to build another. The plunder and con- 
flagration of a city, gives wealth to the robbers, to 
enable them to build it up again still more splendid. The 
plunder of Canaan, by the Israelites, gave them wealth 

a 



122 

enough to build their city and fortification's^ and gave 
King David wealth enough to leave Solomon, his son, 
wealth enough to build a temple for the Jews, greater in 
splendid beauty and expense, than eyes ever beheld, thus 
dedicating a house to God, at the expense of the blood 
of surrounding nations ; and yet David, by his parasites, 
was called a man after God's own heart, although the 
true history of his life, at this enlightened day, would 
denounce him as being a tyrant, guilty of all We wicked 
actions of a demon, mixed with a show of piety, heathen 
superstition, and idolatry ; praying for himself and na- 
tion, and cursing all that did not submit to his tyrannical 
rule: and his licentious and abandoned son, Solomon, 
who set the most pernicious and debasing example to 
the world. He was no statesman, philanthropist, or im- 
prover of his kingdom, but a debaser of lovely woman, 
created with all the grace, affection, and beauties, and 
virtues of body and mind. In the mental image of him- 
self, God created her, to be the solace of man's life, his 
comforter, the equal partner of his joys and sorrows, and 
his bosom companion, but not his sensual slave. Solo- 
mon was a strict observer of a superficial and sensual 
world ; he knew little, and practiced less of the science 
of civil government. He w^as no philosopher, to trace 
the science of matter and motion back to the source of 
God ; he was no philanthropist, or lover of mankind; he 
lived a soulless sensualist, and died, apparently, an athe- 
ist. Who, says he, knoweth whether the spirit of man 
riseth or falleth to the earth ; as the tree falleth, so it 
lieth ; man hath no pre-eminence over a beast ; one man 
in a thousand I have found worthy, but not a woman 



123 

amongst them. At this enlightened day, from the num- 
ber of leading authors possessing the dignity of soul, 
purity of morals, depth of sentiment, and capacity of 
mind, in all the sciences of useful knowledge equal to 
man, Solomon's degrading character would be in our high 
courts of equity, pronounced as a libel on the dignity of 
woman. Here, again, is a dark page, but true picture 
of the wisdom of the ancient world ; this wise man, in 
his day, was educated in all the branches of a finished 
education of his superstitious time. He was a man of 
bright intellect, but the deep reasoning powers of cause 
and effect, the science of a wise and equitable govern- 
ment, he neither seemed to know or practice. He could 
have seen in the laws of nature, which are the laws of 
God, that he had no right to monopolize a thousand 
shares of innocent beings, when nature only produced an 
equal number of each sex. The laws of our enlightened 
day prohibit that, with many other practices and usurped 
privileges of ancient times, when tyrannic might was the 
governing power over right. The design of nature is, 
apparently, a progressive state, from infancy to maturi- 
ty, and we cannot reasonably look to the infency of the 
world for that wisdom our maturer age has given us: 
therefore the examples of the traditionary fables, that 
superstition, ignorance, and duplicity, has given to an 
over-credulous w^orld, should not be called a test book, as 
the sages of their own day, pronounced their chief pro- 
phets and priests, licentious, immoral, and abandoned 
wretches; vagrants wandering about like Tfie Romish 
priests arul Jesuits of tlie present day; brutalizing, in- 
stead of socializing and humanizing the world, with their 



124 

jarring creeds, and fabulous doctrines, gaining a living by 
fraud and deception. 

In a strict examination of the earliest pages of history, 
to the present day, we find that man had some idea of a 
Supreme Spirit who created him, and the world, and his 
bodily senses, impressed a belief of the goodness and 
greatness of that being we call God. Therefore, not 
having the maturity of the reasoning powers we of this 
day possess, their modes of worship was the offspring of 
fancy, without guidance of reason. Our first parents 
being created in full maturity of body and mind, were the 
only pure spiritual worshipers of God, with no fantastical 
appendages to decorate their temple, no pealing organ, 
tinkling cymbal, or loud sounding trumpets of heathen, 
Jewish, or Christian worship ; but the spontaneous gush 
of Adam's enraptured soul, with his heaven-anointed 
bride, bending in adoration and thanksgiving for the hap- 
py boon of life. This was the pure, unadulturated wor- 
ship of God, prior to speculating theorists, who make it 
a trading system of merchandise over the world, far more 
pernicious than Pandora's box, containing all the evils 
of life, with hope at the bottom. 

But w^hat hope of happiness have we now ? Creed 
upon creed, system upon system ; dark-tangled doctrines, 
as dark as fraud can weave, which their votaries on trust 
receive. May not our inexplicable systems of religion be 
compared to a shattered planet, w^hose explosive burst 
cast its fragments through the heavens, as faint and 
glittering stars of the firmament ; or the w^andering 
comet, shot from its source of light, and when its impe- 
tuosity is exhausted, again returns. But when will man 



125 

return to the original purity of Adam's worship, when 
thousands of altars now burn with unholy fire, from the 
sacrifice of human victims, with hecatombs of the useful 
beasts created for man's sustenance. Abel, offering the 
first sacrifice, and Cain, jealous of his brother's sacrifice 
burning the highest, being of a more inflammable nature, 
slew his brother. Here is the first example of human 
sacrifice given, which was carried out through time to a 
fearful extent. Even the Patriarch Abraham aided in 
carrying on this wicked delusion, by a designing story 
of the Lord tempting him to offer his son Isaac as a 
sacrifice, he being previously prepared w^th a ram, fas- 
tened in the bushes, as a substitute, by which device the 
story of God blessing Abraham, so that his posterity 
should possess the wealthy and civilized nations of the 
earth, was preached among the Israelites, until circum- 
stances offered to plunder and exterminate the w^ealthiest 
and refined kingdoms, at that time on the earth. The 
character of men vary with time and circumstances. — 
Solomon, prior to the dedication of his temple, and sub- 
sequent thereto, is a melancholy contrast. He appa- 
rently believed, prior to the dedication, that religion was 
based on moral principle ; but seeing the dissipation of 
the worshipers, and immorality of the priests and offi- 
ciates, during the feast of fourteen days, nothing will 
show Solomon's lack of wisdom plainer, than his indi- 
vidual offering to the feast — a feast greater than the city 
of New York could use in one year ; and the licentious- 
ness of the priests, officiates and people, with the women 
who came to worship, was proverbial. The stench of the 
atmosphere round Jerusalem, and in the temple and 
11* 



126 

court, must have been suffocating, yet it was stated to be 
a sweet-smelling; savor to the Lord. The fire that con- 
sumed the burnt offerings, so filled the house, that the 
priests cowld not enter into it. The Levites, with their 
instruments of music, and the priests with their trumpets, 
sounded a jubilee of promise to the Lord, more tumultu- 
ous than that in pagan temples, where the worshipers 
think that the louder the noise they make, the better 
their deity will hear ; or like the Israelites, dancing 
round Aaron^s brazen calf on a pole, a cunning device of 
Miriam, to obtain the jewelry of her sister's borrowed 
treasures from the Egyptians. This is a faint, but true 
resemblance of their worship, yet not more humiliating 
to the dignity of man, than Christian Popery ; not more 
debasing to the soul and body of a woman, than the sen- 
suality of a popish confessional, and prison house of hell, 
a popish nunnery — immuring their young and innocent 
victims in these dens of infamy, secluded from the light 
and beauty of the outer world, and from all the joys and 
happiness that God designed his creatures to possess ; 
and any father that would allow his daughter to be con- 
fined in a popish nunnery, should be execrated by every 
true republican citizen of America, and held up, like 
some of our would-be Presidents, in contempt. God, and 
the energies of reasoning men, keep our Republic from 
the debasing influence of popery, is the prayer of the 
writer. The sword of Washington done much ; the 
rights of man and the power of reason done more, in 
kindling; the hallowed fire of freedom in American 
bosoms ; and may it never die, whilst the earth bears a 



127 

plant, or the sea rolls its waters. The following lines 
raay be appropriately quoted here : 

" This is our youthful jubilee ; 

Our servile years have rolled away; 
The clouds that hovered o'er us flee, 
* And hail the dawn of Freedom's day. 

From Heaven the golden light descends, 

Our days of youth are on the wing, 
And glory here her pinion bends, 

And beauty wakes a fairer spring. 
Our hills, and lakes, and rolling waves. 

Are all in triumph's pomp arrayed, 
With light that points to tyrants graves, 

Plays round each freeman's trusty blade." 

From what has been said of the character of the Jew- 
ish nation, it will appear that Christianity is only a modi- 
fied form of the Jewish religion. It commenced ils new 
destiny similar in many respects to our own designing 
priests and prophets, on losing their delusive influence 
over the people. Jewish priestcraft devised the exciting 
story of a miraculous conception of a married woman, 
who was considered a virgin before marriage, and the 
violation of which, according to the Jewish law% consign- 
ed her to be disgraced, and sent home to her parents. 
Therefore, to remove this stigma from the Virgin Mary, 
after her denying any connection with man, it was re- 
ported that she conceived by a new discovered deity, 
called the Holy Ghost, not known to the world before ; 
as the seventy disciples sent out by Jesus only continued 
in John's baptism, who had never heard of a Holy Ghost, 
until Paul, in the year A. D. 58, told them. This new 
doctrine of a Trinity was not known to the disciples, un- 



128 

til twenty years after the reported resurrection ; and the 
new religion being not clearly understood, until several 
centuries after Peter attained the dignity of Bishop and 
Pontiff of Rome. 

The ancient Romans, being educated on the purest 
system, embracing every virtue that dignifies the soul 
and body of man and woman, and the Roman dignitaries 
seeing in Peter a shrewd but ignorant man, raising him- 
self and his associates to such dignity above their undCi- 
standing or capacity, with a shrewd fanatical lawyer as 
chief counsellor, numberless votaries of his sect were 
viewed by the noble-minded Romans with a jealous eye, 
as they increased in power ; and their suspicion w^as 
strengthened by their senate passing an edict that the 
Christians should leave Rome. But Tiberius, one of the 
greatest wretches and tyrants that ever disgraced human- 
ity, passed a counter-edict ; and so they continued in 
power and influence until the conflagration of Rome, 
when Peter suff'ered death by crucifixion, Paul being be- 
headed with divers bishops and leaders of the sect, with 
thousands of their votaries. Thus their temporal power 
in Rome only began in the reign of Constantine, who 
gained a decisive victory over a pagan army, aided by 
the prayers of three hundred bishops, presbyters, and 
deacons ; thus making false miracles the design of super- 
stitious history, over a great part of the world, to this 
day. The American Republic depends more for success 
on a just cause, valiant hearts, and strong arms, than all 
the Christian hireling bishops of England, who voted for 
war on their Protestant brethren of America, and prayed 
for seven years, in every pulpit of the United Kingdom, 



129 

for the success of His Majesty's arms against the Ameri- 
can rebels. Such are the prayers of the unjust ami wicked 
oppressors of their fellow men ; and Americans know 
that reason, or the rights of man, never proceeded from 
a throne or pulpit. View with a sigh and tear the bodies 
of eleven thousand five hundred patriots, who sacrificed 
their lives to the glorious cause of freedom, as prisoners 
in British prison-ships, maliciously destroyed by stagnant 
water, tainted meats, and the foul air of their floating 
houses of hell. This is the mildest mercy of throne and 
pulpit. Their arched sepulture can be seen at New York, 
as a memento of British tyranny. As respects the Chris- 
tian ascendency, it continued to ascend, from the reign 
of Constantine, to its zenith, when its ambitious designs 
were checked by a religious sect, called Mohammedans, 
more enlightened in the science of government and ra- 
tional religion. The repeated defeats of the Christians 
by the Turkish Mohammedans, gave encouragement to 
reflecting minds, on the assumption of power, fraud and 
deception practiced by the pope and priests on the peo- 
ple, with unheard-of cruelties on those who would not 
dissent, and join in their abominable practices. The 
burning, torturing, and confiscation of property of here- 
tics, was dreadful, as all crimes could be forgiven by the 
authority of the pope, for a share of the plunder. This 
blasphemous assumption of the forgiveness of sins, no 
matter how deep the crime, is one of the main causes for 
committing crime. This wretched scene of war and 
])lun(ler spread over Christian Europe, desolating the 
fairest portion of God's earth, until about the sixteenth 
century, when seeing the evil effects produced by the 



130 

forgiveness of sins, they openly avowed that the pope 
had no power to forgive sins ; and the refornaers, 
although all agreeing on that point, could not agree 
on any particuhir system of religion, and exploded like a 
planet, scattering stars of their ow^n magnitude. 

Cause, and effect are the principle and invariable laws, 
whereby God has impressed on all created nature ; the 
human mind being the only solitary exception, the free 
agency of which is solely left to man, without which the 
infinite laws of God or man w^ould not have held him ac- 
countable for his actions, as God has given him faculties 
of body and mind superior to all other created beings, by 
which he can know his duty to himself, to God, and to 
his fellow man. Therefore God has done all for man 
that infinite wisdom could do, consistent with his design 
of creation. He has conferred on man dignity of body 
and mind, above all others ; one degree higher w-ould 
merge him into the essence of a Deity. Who that under- 
stands the science of nature, which is the science of God, 
doubts for a moment the wisdom and greatness of God ? 
If the tenth of the money paid annually to deceptive 
preachers, and teachers of traditionary fables, (taught in 
the dark ages of the w^orld's infancy, now" dressed up in 
a modern garb, merely changing the name, yet retaining 
all the delusive phantasies of superstitious ignorance,) 
was paid for the education of our youths, in the useful 
and dignified knowledge of classic science, which con- 
stitutes all human knowledge, man being terrestrial, with 
powers and perception to know the limits of human 
knowledge, will never attempt to fathom the infinite 
wisdom of Deity. Human knowledge is w^holly and 



131 

solely limited to observations and experience, in the 
phenomenon of the material world ; the operation of 
mind upon mind, of matter upon mind, or of mind upon 
matter, is the universal operation of nature. Cause and 
effect is the grand principle which God has impressed on 
nature, as a self-operating cause of all existence. 

We have comprehended in the works of Deity, all 
things designed and executed with infinite skill and wis- 
dom, and that the design of Infinite Wisdom in creation 
generally, was an accession to Heaven, and the final 
happiness of rational creatures; and, even in this transi- 
tory state, with the means of happiness so bountifully 
provided, man might, by using his best endeavors to un- 
derstand the duties of life, enjoy happiness here prepara- 
tory to a final state of bliss in eternity ; but the means 
of happiness here are, in a great degree, dependent on a 
well-informed mind, prior to commencing the duties of 
life, a sound English education, or at least the basis of 
one, for self-improvement. No parent ou^ht to omit 
that essential duty to his posterity, and if circumstances 
permitted, a classical education to his sons and his 
daughters qualified in the duties of wives and mothers. 
America is viewed as the polar star of an improving 
world, possessing in a preeminent degree, the theory and 
practice of a civil and equitable government, the rights 
and dignities of their fellow men, the rights of choosing 
their rulers, limiting their power and amending their 
constitution and laws, in short, the voice o\ the intelli- 
gent people may be considered the law of the land. 
Reason and the rights of man are the glorious system of 
our republic. It has glory for what it has done, and yet 



132 

glory for what it can do ; it is a land of scholars, philo- 
sophers, statesmen and a band of brothers, joined in the 
union of interests, union of sentiment, political, social 
and religious, with one Heaven for the righteous, and one 
indivisible and merciful God for the errors of the people. 
Here is, so far, an exposition of the Jewish nation, their 
priests, prophets, kings, and the abominations of their 
worship by burned sacrifices ; licentious practices, carried 
home to private indulgences, the want of rational judg- 
ment in either political or moral religion, precept or ex- 
ample, for our own enlightened day. 



133 



METAPHYSICS AND THEOLOGY, 

The Chaos of Delusive Science. 

It may be considered a bold attempt of a writer to 
expose a long practiced delusion, in the main principles 
of religion, taught in college and pulpit over the world, 
from the w^orship of Aaron's brazen calf or Nebuchad- 
nezzar's golden image, the miraculous conception of the 
Princess Rhea Sylvia, who bore twin sons, begotten by 
the God of War, who became kings of Rome, up to the 
conception of Mary, who conceived a son by a newly dis- 
covered deity called the Holy Ghost, which son was to be 
king and rule the world, having power over Heaven and 
earth, and hereditary right to transfer it to^ucceeding ages ; 
which tales of ancient mythology the Latter-Day Saints 
have transferred into Christian theology, dressed up in 
a new garb and preached as true gospel; and would 
have spread over the earth, if the founder of a new sect, 
who w^orshiped one God, had not opposed trinitarianism, 
as he knew it to be a wreck of heathen mythology, 
which his forefathers w^orshiped, but he, in his mature 
age abandoned it, and only worshiped one indivisible 
God. This pious Mahomet raised the ire of the Chris- 
tians who made war against him ; this being the eighth 
war waged chiefly from the animosity of religion, but 
never can Christians make the pious Mohammedans bow 
to a trinitarian God-head, where the second person is 
the son of a woman ; and from their massacreing spirit 
12 



134 

against those who dissented from their ridiculous creed, 
their ranks are lessening every day, and when the gene- 
ral mass of mankind are better educated in useful know- 
ledge, to know truth from falsehood, sound sense from 
nonsense, miracle, trick and duplicity, from science, with 
a knowledge of how to live and enjoy the rational plea- 
sures of life, without casting away the proceeds of in- 
dustry, without an equivalent to support the comforts 
and dignity of life. From this brief introduction, we 
sha 11 proceed to explain Metaphysical Theology ; although 
distinct in name, yet they are mother and daughter. 
Theology, first born and practiced by Cain and Abel, 
where the blood of beasts and man stained the altar ; 
w^here man first shed the blood of a brother; after which 
this false worship spread over the world like a contagion, 
w^here hecatombs of men and beasts drenched the altars 
with gore; and •man became the lord and tyrant over 
his fellow, and consigned lovely woman to death for sin 
that God nor nature never sanctioned, when tyrant man 
w^as the cause of her shame ; and innocence suffered for 
the crimes of the guilty. In viewing these two princi- 
ples. Metaphysics and Theology, mother and daughter, 
Theology, being the eldest born, commenced her false 
worship by staining the blood of her fellow man, which 
caused the first tears to flow from the eyes of our first 
parents, for the first sin of their first born and the loss 
of their son Abel. This false worship spread over the 
w^orld increasing their sacrifices to hecatombs of human 
victims and fat cattle, the priests preaching up to this 
day that there is no remitting of sin without shedding 
blood, and the father of our Christian faith carried up 



135 

the delusion, by saying, *' I come not to bring peace on 
the earth, but a sword ; to set father against son, and son 
against father, so that his own household shall be his 
greatest enemies/' This is the demi-god that our pul- 
pit orators state came from Heaven, to redeem the world 
from sin ; yet this redeemer of the world stated openly 
that he only came to redeem the Israelites, by ascending 
Kind David's throne. Jesus was a Jew in principle, 
taught to believe that his nation of people was the only 
favorites of God, and all others only fit for stratagem and 
spoil. This evangelist doctrine, taught by Jesus of 
Nazareth, intermixed with heathen mythology, com- 
prises Christian theology, devised by designing men for 
their own aggrandizement, presummg to know, by a 
custom of their own devising, the mysteries of God, an- 
gels, spirits good, and spirits evil, the properties and 
attributes of which, is as far above human comprehen- 
sion as God is above man, and yet they sell them in 
their books, and preach them from their pulpits as holy 
writ, on which belief their salvation depends. Believe 
our doctrine and be saved, disbelieve and be damned. 
The Christian doctrine will assuredly fall, being equally 
as tyrannical as Nebuchadnezzar's w^orship of his golden 
image. This is a sample of Christian theology which 
has cost rivers of blood and millions of treasure, to en- 
force its delusive doctrines over the bewildered world. 
The philosophy of metaphysics, or the science of being 
and beings; such as God, angels, good and evil spirits, 
created and uncreated beings, so etherial as not to be 
seen or touched, but only a mere conception of the mind, 
a mental shadow without a substance. These are the 



136 

elements of all mythology, metaphysics and all modern 
theology, simple and compound, like the elements of 
chaos, prior to its harmonious organization into order, 
all baseless in sound science, reason and truth, as the 
phantom of dreams, or the visionary fumes of disordered 
brains. This is an epitome of all theology, ancient and 
modern, conceived in sin, nurtured in duplicity, and 
baptized in blood, from the first pagan altar, on the 
confines of happy Eden, to the cross on Mount Calvary, 
the inquisition in Spain, the Bastile in France, the dun- 
geons, rack and fire-stake of the dissenters from the de- 
lusive doctrine of Christianity. Believe and be saved, 
or disbelieve and be damned. This is the basis of all 
theological speculation since time began, and yet man 
knows no more of God than when he first opened his 
eyes into existence ; God being a spiritual essence, per- 
vading all spiritual nature, can only be known by His 
w^isdom in the works of His creation, as the living spirit 
and soul of the universe ; and that the religion and wor- 
ship of God only consists in the rectitude of human ac- 
tion, the consciousness of which produces on the soul 
gratitude for bounties received, with the pleasing antici- 
pation of final happiness in eternity. This is the religion 
of God to make man happy ; he being infinitely so, mor- 
tals can njeither add nor diminish to or from his divinity. 
All other bewildered systems of human invention tend to 
contract the mind into a contracted orbit, preventing it 
from a higher state of intellectual knowledge, demon- 
strating that God designed, by the effects of his works, 
the happiness of His universal creation, therefore, all 
systems of human invention, that do not produce similar 



137 

effects, are false, deceptive and derogatory to the in- 
tended will of God and the general happiness of man. 

Adam when created was made perfect both in body 
and in mind, and knew by intuition as much as a man 
can ever know of God's origin, and there can be no 
rational doubt that Adam knew his dignified station, as 
governor of this lower world, and had all the intellect 
necessary for founding and propagating his new w^orld, 
and that from the age of men who lived at that time 
there is no doubt, but Adam lived to see his posterity 
increased to millions, in which reli2;ious dissensions ap- 
pear to be the cause of shedding blood, and continues to 
the present day, and is taught by the most enlightened 
nations on earth, in colleges and pulpits, that there is 
no remission of sin without shedding of blood, and that 
the blood of a man shed eighteen hundred years ago, on 
Mount Calvary, was to be a propitiation to God for the 
sins of the w^orld. 

This main principle, in the Christian religion, that 
there is no remission of sins without the shedding of 
blood, is as old as Cain and Abel, carried up to Abraham 
offering up his son Isaac, with increasing numbers, to 
hecatombs of human victims and fat cattle, yet offered 
up to the god of war, with wine, oil and the fatlings of 
the flock, that God gave to man for his sustenance, and 
carried to such extremes as to create fiimine. 

Such is Paganism, such Jewish religion and Christian 
popery, carried up in succession to this day by Russia, a 
Christian potentate, this being the eighth war waged 
against the Turks, the last for anactof mercy shown to the 
fleeing Hungarians, and when all Christendom shut their 
12* 



138 

gates against them, the Turks threw open their arms 
and their purse, to save them from Russian vengeance, 
at the risk of the ire of the Czar, they only worshiping 
one God — we Christians worshiping a trinity, one of 
which was the illegitimate son of a woman ; and which 
unjust wars cost millions of lives, and billions of treasure 
to crush the pious Mohammedans who would not worship 
a woman god. 

Those who died on the field of battle are much less 
to be pitied than those who survive ; the widows and 
orphans, females especially, left without a guard or 
guide, or means of education and support, and they are 
forced to stoop to the lowest degree of infamy for sub- 
sistence, and generally die a premature death. But this, 
bad as it is, is only one half of the dark picture. The 
longer a war continues, the longer the desolating effects 
are felt after its close. The last twenty years' war, 
which closed with the battle of Waterloo and New Or- 
leans, kept all Europe agitated like a stormy sea, by 
turning loose thousands of broken-hearted men, without 
means of employment, or fit to be employed in the du- 
ties of civilized life ; having been so long apprenticed to 
rapine and plunder of the world, by land and sea, were 
considered as robbers let loose on the peace and happi- 
ness of Europe, and they could find no employment. 
Finding themselves cast from civilized life, necessity, 
that knows no law binding against the preservation of 
life, they turned robbers on land, and pirates at sea, 
continuing the practice of highway robbery, they were 
taught by the authority of their government, and ac- 
cording to their mode of reasoning, constituted a govern- 



139 

ment of their own, and acted on their own responsibility 
in their miniature world ; a piratical craft at sea, mon- 
archical governments calling legal robbery on sea priva- 
teering ; wherein the robbers and the government were 
in equal partnership, and divided the spoils equally ; but 
all highway robbery which retains the spoils, without 
sharing equally with the government is called pirating, 
and the pirates are condemned, if caught, and hung, and 
for land robbers a similar law. This is the nature of the 
law, a government robbery is a legal robbery, and an 
insulated robbery to be considered felony, and punished 
with death ; this being the only difference, the govern- 
ment robbing according to law, private robbery being 
committed against the law. This is like Joshua and Alex- 
ander, who led their bandit armies over a conquered 
world, deluging earth with blood, dividing the fairest 
kingdoms on earth between their generals ; one stimulating 
his army by the vain glory of a conqueror, the other by 
deceptive tricks and miracles, which is generally the 
case in all wars not purely defensive. What was the 
object of England giving the East India Company a 
charter to govern the kingdoms of the East, but to gain 
fortunes by enriching themselves with plunder gained 
from kingdoms not their own, like Joseph of old, plan- 
ning artificial famine, and locking with impious hand 
their teeming stores, whilst famished nations died along 
their shores, could mock the groans of fellow men, and 
bear the cries of kingdoms peopled with despair, could 
stamp disgrace on man's polluted name, and barter with 
their gold eternal shame. This is the way Enirland o-ot 
rich and powerful by subjugating the East Indies, and 



140 I 

twice attempted to subjugate the West Indies, but found 
raaster spirits there different from Hindoos, men of phy- 
sical and mental energies, superior from their political 
governments, consisting of sovereign states, each state 
with a legislature, as a high school of political science, 
wherein was taught more useful knowledge than churches 
or colleges ever knew, w^here every member can repre- 
sent the wants and w^ishes of his constituents with any 
afnendraent of general policy for the whole, no ^' dog in 
the manger'^ laws, but such as the benevolent laws of 
God, a general good to mankind. 

In all ages of the world, men believed there was in ex- 
istence a being the creator of this gorgeous world, enti- 
tled to adoration and worship. In the beginning, man 
only worshiped one supreme God over all other gods, 
for four thousand years, when a Jewish cabal, number- 
ing one hundred and twenty designers, stated that God, 
in the magnitude of his kingdom, required a triple God- 
head, to be worshiped and known as Father, Son and 
Holy Ghost, equal in power and glory ; thus making 
this new trinitarian worship, only eighteen hundred and 
fifty-six years old ; showing, according to the new sys- 
tem of trmitarianism, that the one supreme God had 
created and ruled the universe through endless eternity, 
until the aforesaid cabal thought proper to aid infinity 
by the aforesaid auxiliary. This new auxihary to the 
supreme Creator of the universe, after His work was 
finished so infinitely perfect that nothing could add or 
diminish its self-operating principles, without supervi- 
sionary aid or operation, until the final dissolution of 
nature, when time will dissolve all created things into 



141 

their originality, when the sun shall close his beaminfr 
eye, and cast his pall of darkness over a dead world. 
This crowning miracle of a newly invented auxiliary aid 
to infinite government, bears its own condemnation on 
its face, as being the most ridiculous, inconsistent and 
absurd that knaves could conceive or satan invent, to 
revolutionize the world and carry their party into power. 
The Jews, at this time, being grievously oppressed by 
the exactions of their priests and lying prophets, were 
ready for any change, which could not be worse, and 
caught with avidity any plan that would raise themselves 
into power. The story of Mary and the Ghost begetting 
a new sub-deity, to aid in the government of the world, 
this grand dr^toa was acted by a Jewish cabal of de- 
signers, sending out the two wise men of the East to 
worship the new born king, the members of the aforesaid 
cabal, like the corps of a theatre, being each assigned 
their several parts — the youngest and handsomest acting 
the part of the Angel Gabriel, to inform Mary of her 
conception of a kingly son to inherit King David's throne, 
like Bathsheba's son succeeded to his father's throne. 
Mary's son only succeeded to a crown o^ thorns on 
Mount Calvary. Here are two cases similar in luotive^ 
the one successful, the other unsuccessful ; as the cir- 
cumstances of the case was most favorable. Luke, the 
Evangelist, states that Gabriel, who was to act the part 
of the angel, came unto Mary and said unto her, Fear 
not, thou hast found Aivor with God, and thou shalt 
bring forth a son, and call him Jesus, and (lod shall give 
him the throne of a kingdom, and he shall rule it for- 
ever. And Mary said unto Gabriel, be it to me as thou 



142 

hast said ; therefore Gabriel must have been the father 
of Mary's kingly son. As Zacharias the high priest 
was the chief designer, operator, and head of this de- 
signing cabal of Jewish revolutionists, to regain the Jew- 
ish throne by this incredulous story of Mary and the 
Ghost, thus Gabriel that acted the angel was one of the 
wise men of the East, that visited Mary after her ac- 
couchement, and worshiped his child, and gave its mother 
gold and treasure to support her, if her husband should 
put her away ; this is the most rational account that 
can be given of the most mysterious pantomimic farce 
ever acted on a bewildered world, to raise obscure 
men from the lowest station in life to rulers of the world ; 
this is an enigma for statesmen to exercis*fe their reason- 
ing powers upon, and show^s the deep designing cupidity 
of men — closing on this part of the subject by the effect 
produced by this mysterious enigma. 

Although Christianity has cast oif, by reformation, 
the grossest parts of its existence, yet it retains its delu- 
sive and contradictory tenets, both in theory and prac- 
tice. What but a name, makes the difference between 
a Lord Pri§ie Bishop of England, with hereditary power 
^ver his subordinates, but the power and dignity of a 
rope ? The British Parliament have twelve demi-gods, 
sitting as a bench of spiritual bishops, like the pope's 
cardinals, casting their votes in solid column, with peers 
of the realm — thus swaying the votes of every act of 
parliament, in war or peace, as most conducive to their 
interest, irrespective of public good. Valiant Boston, 
when the British attempted to drench them with tea, 
cast it into the sea to drench the fishes ; and like popery, 



143 

when raising its hydra head under the guise of religion, 
in their prison-houses of female debauchery. Napoleon 
blew it up to raise no more, to insult the delicacy and 
virtue of our virgin republic ; and Martin Van Buren's 
name ought to be struck out of the list of our great men, 
for the humiliation of inviting the Pope of Rome to 
establish his abominable religion in our new republic, 
whose commerce only extends to pictures, ivory dolls, and 
statues of Jesus, clearly represented in the World's Fair 
in London; where every civilized nation brought some- 
thing of utility, popery sent a crucifix and an ivory Christ. 
It is grievous to every Protestant heart, that has as- 
similated itself with our happy republic, and knows the 
brutal, lying effect of popery, which, like the Upas tree, 
blasts the fair fruits of virtue, modesty and chastity in 
woman, and honor and intellect in man. The writer 
cannot express his indignation any stronger, than did 
the noble-minded priest, Hogan, who tore himself loose 
from the deadening fangs of popery, cautioning his 
adopted country of the insidious wiles and undermining 
spirit of popery, in all countries w^here its influence is 
felt ; thus summing up, in a few words, that popery was 
the embodiment of all that was evil, and destitute of all 
that was good in man or woman ; whose priests, like 
serpents, coil themselves into the secret recesses of wo- 
man's heart, and maiden's innocence — thus stealing the 
aff'ection of wives from their husbands, making them be- 
lieve that they have power over their body and soul, 
and that which would be a sin in other men, was no sin 
in them; and that they were endowed with power to 
forgive sins, sanctify the body, and •send their souls to 



144 

heaven — thus causing the wife only to consider the hus- 
band secondary to the priest, the husband only having 
dominion over her body, during a transitory life, the 
priest claiming spiritual power over body and soul. 

The initiation of virgins into the Church of Rome, 
requires them as early as nine years old ; and although 
at that age they are considered unconscious of sin, yet 
the form of sanctification of the person is a seal into the 
church, the priest being bound by the awfulest oath to 
perform this duty as young as age permits ; and this 
carnal seal, stamped so early on the penitent, time nor 
maturity of age can ever efface, as opportunities are al- 
ways sought and given for its repetition. 

The writer of this book, from personal observation, 
history, and various reliable sources, understands the 
whole corrupt system and blasphemous assumption of 
Christian popery, from the miraculous conception of 
Mary, and the blasphemous assumption of her illegiti- 
mate son, his disciples, apostles, and evangelists' drama- 
tic representation — from the first of Matthew to the last 
of the Revelations ; its reference to Bible support, from 
the great magician, Moses, Joshua, and Samuel, kings, 
priests and prophets, to the last of Malachi ; thus com- 
mencing at the beginning, and not only giving a partial 
history or explanation of the corruption of Christianity, 
from base to apex, but tracing religion and worship 
generally through its -phases, since the story of Abra- 
ham offering up his son Isaac, to the last Jewish sacri- 
fice of Jesus, the Son of Mary, his reported resurrection 
and ascension to heaven, and like Elijah, taken up alive 
— thus every story-in the Bible, or noted miracle, or 



145 

jiei-son, are quoted as a type of Jesus. Moses was forty 
(lays in the Mount, chiseling out the commandments on 
tablets of stone ; Jesus was forty days in the wilder- 
ness, contending with the devil about the supremacy of 
worship, Jesus desiring the devil to w^orship God, pro- 
fessinor to be the son of God, but the devil refused. This 
is merely introductory to the commencement of the incon- 
ceivable jargon taught by Jesus, intermixed with old 
sayings, and fragments of moral duties as old as time, 
and understood by all civilized and enlightened people 
on earth, more CvSpecially heathen philosophy, which 
teaches the practical duties of life, such as Confucius, 
the Chinese philosopher ; Aristotle, who classed all hu- 
man duties in human action, and theology to be no part 
of the free development of the faculties of the mind ; 
theology being a mere speculative conjecture on the sci- 
ence of imaginary beings of the spiritual world, which 
mortal minds can no more comprehend, than the eternity 
of God. Thus, theological colleges, teaching the doctrines 
of incomprehensible things, the shadows of imaginary 
substances, which they cannot understand themselves, 
this shameful delinquency on the common and thought- 
less masses, more especially American republicans, who 
have cast off the servile yoke of one-man power, and 
hereditary rule. 

Citizens of this glorious young Republic, it is by the 
efforts of your god-like sires, with the aid of the enlight- 
ening pen of the rights of man, and dignity of self- 
government, reason, science and sense, that you now 
stand as a beacon light to the world, and your destiny 
is to outrival ancient Rome, in her palmy days of power 
13 



146 

and glory^ when the dignified title of a Roman citizen 
was considered greater than that of a king ; when their 
yirtuous waives and chaste daughters w^alked hand in 
hand with the nobles of the land ; when the sword of 
freemen took vengeance on insulting power, on their 
chaste and lamented Lucretia, who preferred death to a 
dishonored life ; when Virginius, the Roman general, to 
save his only daughter from lustful power, drove the 
pointed steel into her bosom, and sent her virgin soul 
spotless to heaven ; w^hen Regulus voluntarily suffered 
martyrdom, rather than lessen the dignity of his country 
by a dishonored peace. It would extend the bounds of 
this work, to show more than a sample of what Rome 
was, and the contrast of what it now is — a land of 
tyrants and dishonored slaves. 

Priest Hogan, instead of exposing the abominable 
system of Christian popery, as he might — began at the 
beginning of Christianity, and explained its jarring ele- 
ments, and what is episcopacy of the established Church 
of England, but an aristocratic hierarchy, supported by 
an aristocratic peerage, only popery on a more dignified 
scale ; one robbing their subjects by acts of parliament, 
the executive king and standing army, forcing their un- 
just enactments ; popery robbing by every mean device, 
cupidity, confiscation, massacre, and plunder of the 
seceders from their abonjinable creed and church ; this 
is Christian popery, and its prototype, Christian episco- 
pacy, of monarchical governments. What but a name 
is the difference between the protestant parties, but a 
flimsy partition ; one taking the sacramental elements in 
a literal sense, by transubstantiation, all others as em- 



147 

bleras of the body and blood of their seemed deity ; some 
drink their wine out of a gold or silver goblet, the poorer 
classes drink it out of a wooden cup, with wine and 
bread of an inferior quality — such as our missionaries 
christianize Negroes in Liberia ; like the Swedenbor- 
gians, the higher they ascend in this life, the higher sta- 
tion they will attain in heaven. This is ancient mythology 
renewed ; thus showing, that when one system dies 
away, w^e scrape up the old, and renew its former image, 
shifting only the external scenery, but still retaining the 
delusive image of the former. Such is the fantasy of 
religion, since the days of Cain and AbeL Cain being 
the elder, slew his pious young brother; a sad example, 
which has been carried up through time, causing rivers 
of blood to be shed over the world, and millions of trea- 
sures to be expended in the same delusive way* This 
is called religion, evanescent as the floating clouds of 
heaven, passing over the sunbeam of a summer's day, 
or the transitory joys of human life. Therefore we see 
admiring pagan, Jew, Christian and heathen, all pursue 
the same object, which, like the babe catching at the 
l:)^auteous rainbow^ of heaven, finds it vanish in its grasp. 
Therefore, if the practice of moral duties were admitted 
as a criterion for all religion, then the sound sense of the 
world would agree ; but as it now is made to consist of 
faith and doctrines, opposite in practice and theory, it is 
impossible, so long as each party persists in the right of 
his own interested creed like the Ephesian worshipers, 
crying, *Hjrreat is our goddess Diana;" thus showing 
that fancy and interest is the leading object of religious 
worship, where millions of priests make an easy living, 



148 

by teaching fabulous notions, borrowed or stolen from 
each other. All our theological system makers have 
stolen heathen mythology, dressed it up in a new garb 
and name, called theology, or theory of spiritual beings, 
whom no mortal can know ; all a base imposition on a 
bewildered and unlettered world. 

It is considered necessary to state, and w^ished to be 
particularly noticed by the reader, that there is a singu- 
lar sect of men, called Quakers, without a creed or ex- 
ternal form of worship ; who have no expositor or teacher 
of their faith, as each member may, if he thinks proper, 
get up and exhort the young audience to a life of recti- 
tude and self-respect. This, with the prudent example 
of their seniors, gives them as high a moral standing, as 
any other sect of people ; yet the writer states, from the 
authority of reason and sound sense, that there ought to 
be a standard book of faith and moral virtues in every 
family who w^ish to be considered respectable ; as a vast 
majority of the best sense of the world believes a book 
of standard moral virtues, explicit, clear, and compre- 
hensive to the juvenile mind, should be a hand-book for 
repeatedly strengthening the memory. The best book 
now extant for young people, is Burton's Lectures, con- 
taining the whole duty of married and single life. 

" Know then this truth, enough for man to know. 
Virtue alone, is happiness below." 

Quakers, by educating their offspring higher, would, 
by their circumspect and economical management, of 
business, be the most prosperous and happy people on the 
face of the earth ; yet, without the general exercise of 
intellect^ others could not be on a par with a shrewd 



149 ^ 

Quaker. For instance — a Quaker child being repri- 
manded by his father, for asking pennies of his friends, 
as being mean and beggarly, the boy feeling the want 
of his mint-stick, sets his young wits to work, without 
disobeying his father's commands, and asked one of his 
former giving friends to lend him a penny, and not ask 
for it again ; thus evading, without violating his father's 
injunction: similar to a noted case in the British Parlia- 
ment. A lawyer member brought forward a bill to 
sw^ear all Christian people on their standard book, the 
Bible, stating that in a long practice at the bar, he never 
could get an explicit answer from a Quaker, according 
to the virtue of an oath, the defendants of this bill 
holding that it was not the virtue of the Bible that made 
an oath more binding, but the conscientiousness of the 
effects of false w^itnessing; w^hether the oath be taken off 
or on a book, the crime of false witnessing being of equal 
turpitude, in either case. Of course his lordship could 
not pass the bill, although he brought testimony to sup- 
port his charge, as follows : Two credible men made a 
wager, on the impossibility of getting a direct answer 
from a Quaker, and a post-master in the city was to test 
the fact. Both waging men calling at the post office, 
the one that bet that he could get an explicit answer, if 
a plain question was asked, inquired if there was a let- 
ter in the post office for him to-day. The post-master 
first wished to know if he expected a letter to-day. He 
replied that he expected letters of business generally. 
The Quaker replied, *^ Friend, thee is disappointed this 
time." This testimony being decided, turned the laugh 
on his lordship, the keenest lawyer in parliament, out- 
13* 



150 

witted by a Quaker ; thus showing the necessity of 
using all the faculties of the mind in a justifiable way, 
to support our friends and defeat our enemies. 

This subject calls to mind a few more observations 
and reflections on this singular sect of people, who have 
embodied in one system religion without the embodiment 
of a creed or apparent points of faith, yet embracing all 
the essential duties of social life, apparently springing 
spontaneously from a well-regulated mind ; thus being 
their own teachers, preachers, politicians, lawyers, doc- 
tors, and doers of their own public and private affairs, 
by acting on republican principles of self-government ; 
imitating the dignified order of the self-government of 
God, which only consists in the laws of rectitude, which 
bringeth peace, harmony, and mutual happiness. Thus 
far, is a brief outline of Quakerism generally ; although 
having lately split into two parties, believed the seceding 
party Unitarian, the orthodox party Trinitarian, the new 
party is believed requiring a creed of faith and practice, 
the old considering their minds the only criterion judg- 
ment on all human actions of life. This grand criterion 
of mind, when well informed by maturity of age, re- 
quires no other standard, it being the promoter of 
action. 

"Were I so tall to reach the pole. 
Or grasp the ocean in my span, 
I must be measured by my soul, — 
The mind^s the standard of the man." 

In these two view^s of Quakerism, the Unitarian prin- 
ciple will stand the test of reason and sound sense, when 
Trinitarianism will sink to the delusive source from 



151 

whence it sprung. The fount being impure, the stream 
must be corrupt. Unitarianism has stood the test since 
man was created on earth, and will only fall with the 
dissolution of all enlightened minds, there being strong 
self-evident testimony to support the belief of one indi- 
visible God, but direct testimony to disprove rationally 
and conclusively the possible existence of a triple God, 
from the constituted laws of nature, which have never 
been known to vary, since God first* impressed his infinite 
laws to invariably govern his universe, and that no being 
under God, or God himself, consistent w^ith his infalli- 
bility to require an auxiliary aM in his infallible laws of 
self-government, by the creation of two semi-gods — one 
the illegitimate son of a woman, the other a spiritual 
ghost, the father of the son of the woman, half ethereal, 
the third person, not known to exist in heaven or earth, 
prior to the miraculous conception of this woman. This 
inexplicable enigma of religion required all the ingenuity 
of man, demons, and devils, to devise, accomplish, and 
carry it into practical operation. The tools that the 
Jewish conclave of speculators employed to carry out 
their grand speculative system, were twelve illiterate 
fishermen, their leader shrewd and subtle as the serpent, 
which, it is said, beguiled Mother Eve, whose promised 
reward was to receive thrones in heaven, and riches and 
glory on earth ; but Peter, like his master, died for his 
insidious designs, in undermining the Roman power, by 
the attempted conflagration of their great city. 

Christianity offers no testimony whatever, rational, 
circumstantial, or probable, but takes its sayings and 
doings from its own interested party ; and tliey ure all 



152 

inconsistent, contradictory, dubious, dark, incomprehen- 
sible, and incredible, to the well enlightened minds of 
men ; a lock on the understanding and bewildered senses 
of a deluded world. The Quakers are the only sect of 
people seceding from popery, who have philosophically 
examined a basis for rational worship. They saw all 
other sects build systems, as interest or fancy dictated, 
and found all to consist in the relics of heathen idolatry, 
and wisely came to the conclusion to cast off all exter- 
nal appendages of worship, as human inventions, and 
adopt the judgment of their own minds as a criterion 
standard, in all cases, r^igious, political, and civil, by 
w^hich critical exercise they generally evade imposition ; 
by the knowledge of which, when circumstances require, 
can practice it — being more shrewd, are more success- 
ful. 

The object of this book is a censure on the world of 
errors, political, moral, religious, and social, still keeping 
in view the motto, ''Public good the aim, unbiassed 
truth the guide,'' without favor, affection, or intended 
offence or injury to the honorable interest of the world. 

Priest Hogan deserves eternal thanks from his adopted 
country, for tearing himself from the poisoning fangs of 
popery, and exposing its brutalizing and insidious wiles 
in our virgin republic — he receiving a moral education, 
prior to the profession he intended to practice, and be- 
lieving that religion consisted in eternal principles of 
rectitude, and not as he found it, a soulless system of 
bewildered creeds and dogmas, requiring only to be con- 
strued to suit the common casualties of life, as inclina- 
tion, cunning, cupidity or self-interest offered ; the duties 



153 

of the confessional, too sensually gross for his young 
soul, more particularly the violation of that command, 
"Thou shalt not commit adultery," the sin of fornica- 
tion beneath notice, except with a heretic — all these 
duties of the confessional the priest is bound by the aw- 
fulest oaths to perform ; thus making the catholic reli- 
gion a double charm to priest and penitent, not equalled 
by the grossest idolatry we read of in the pagan wor- 
ship of Bacchus, w^hich was put down by law, here in our 
young America ; sanctioned by law in the confessional, 
where no eye can see nor tongue reveal ; this Congress 
ought to see to, like Napoleon, the purifier of European 
atmosphere, cleared the chasm of superstition, bigotry, 
king and priestcraft ; struck at the beast with seven heads 
and ten horns, wounded but not slain ; who blew up the 
prison-houses of hell, the inquisition in Spain, the Bastile 
in France, popish harems, sinks of virgin purity and infan- 
ticide, private cells of confessional adultery and damnino; 
sin — weaning the affections of the husband, daughter and 
the mother, from the moral teachings of a father and 
husband ; bound to tell the secrets of their hearts to a 
libidinous priest, in a secret cell of female pollution. The 
noble Roman general, w^hen he could no longer save his 
daughter from the lust of a tyrant, drove the pointed 
steel into her young bosom, and sent her soul spotless 
to heaven. It is humiliating to our republican govern- 
ment and politicians, to chose one of our leading gene- 
rals as a candidate for President of our young republic, 
who consigned his accomplished daughter to the private 
shades of a popish nunnery, secluding her young soul 
from the light and pleasures of the outer world, to die 



154 

in hopeless celibacy to conceal her shame. Further 
ilhistration of metaphysics and theology. 

Conceived in sin, baptized in blood, nurtured in crime, 
fraud and duplicity, from the babe in the manger to the 
cross on Mount Calvary, devised by a conclave of Jews 
to carry out a new religion and raise themselves into 
power by twelve illiterate fishermen from the sea of Gali- 
lee, with a lewd woman of the town called Mary Mag- 
dalene, who, prior to her initiation in the secret, under- 
went a purgation of casting out seven devils, all the evil 
propensities woman can contain. The designers sent 
out two wise men of the East as heralds to proclaim the 
new dynasty and w^orship their new-born king, one of 
which was evidently the natural father of Mary's kingly 
son, he worshiping the child and giving the mother pre- 
sents; the other designers w^ere John the Baptist, pioneer 
to make a path for their new Lord, Simeon of Jerusalem, 
who blessed the child as the redeemer of Israel, and 
Zacharias, a strong supporter of the redeeming king, 
Mary Magdalene the supreme abbess, being purified for 
the station, shrewd and subtle, and reporter of her mas- 
ter's resurrection ; likewise Barnabas the Levite, set the 
example to the converts to sell their places and lay the 
money at the feet of the apostles ; this being the teach- 
ing of the Holy Ghost, sell what you have, give to the 
poor, and ye shall have riches in Heaven. This pro- 
cedure, by the laws of the present day, would consign 
these vagrants to the state prison ; this is the way their 
master taught them to catch men in preference to fish, 
by which means they succeeded to riches and thrones of 
glory ; the Jewish heaven, by the doctrine of Jesus, 



loo 

stating that he only came on earth to redeem the houses 
of Israel, the elect people of God, but the apostles to 
make themselves more liberal and popular, stated their 
belief that Gentiles might share in their Heaven by faith 
in their creed ; thus, their leader, Simon Peter, being 
used to catch all kinds of fish in his net, and that one 
convert, with his farm, would be w^orth all the fish he 
ever caught — shrewdly caught Jew and Gentile, in open 
violation of his master's order, *^ Go not by the way of 
the Gentiles," and Peter, doubting heavenly thrones, 
caught an earthly one, supreme over all the kingdoms 
of the earth. Such is a brief history or rather outline 
of the founders of Christianity, 

We shall now close this exciting subject of Metaphy- 
sics, the sister of Theology, and as there is no compara- 
tive likeness to it in heaven, earth or ocean, that can 
be discovered, it must have sprung from the shreds of 
chaos, where light has never yet penetrated, and con- 
jured into earth, by a conclave of Jews, numbering one 
hundred and twenty, deep designing Jesuits ; with 
Zacharias, the high priest at their head, and counsellor 
Joseph, the chief leaders ; doctrines stating that man's 
heaven or hell lies in his own bosom, a thing of his 
own, making riches and glory, owners of thrones and 
honors in heaven ; this was the aim of the new Chris- 
tian religion which they carried into effect by every 
means that villainy could devise ; '' Sell what you have 
and give to the poor, and ye shall have treasure in hea- 
ven," was the proclamation of the apostles on their way 
to Rome ; they finding unlearned men much easier in- 
duced to believe what they cannot comprehend, than 



156 

what is reduced plain to their comprehension ; thus the 
teachers finding the masses more willing to pay for the 
teaching of fabulous tales, told millions of times over, 
than the teaching of science, sound sense or reason, and 
yet there is nothing under heaven more vahaable than an 
intelligent mind, and yet less valued by unthinking mil- 
lions, thus showing to the intelligent reader that the 
jarring doctrines of sectarian religion, as taught since 
man formed the duplicity of outwitting his fellow, and if 
the thousandth part of the means expended in building 
expensive churches and theological colleges, teaching 
fanciful dogmas of sectarian doctrines without any more 
basis than that of chaos, prior to its organization by 
Infinite Wisdom into light and beauty and harmonious 
order, had been applied, in a rational way, to teach the 
world only useful knowledge, science, sense and moral 
virtues, the world would have been, thousands of years 
ago, much more enlightened and happy than it now is. 

The main leading criterion of both Metaphysics and 
Theology are the same in spirit and letter, both requiring 
their votaries to renounce their ow^n belief and embrace 
theirs ; by implicit faith in the doctrine of their founder, 
his miraculous conception, crucifixion resurrection and 
ascension into Heaven — like Elijah in corporeal body — 
and that he would return again to earth, reanimate the 
dead, and judge the world, and create a new heaven and 
a new earth for the righteous, and a hell for the wicked. 
This is the teaching of Christian Theology. Metaphy- 
sics require you to consider your senses all fallacious, 
that there is no substantial bodies in nature, that the 
universe is only a world of shadows, that you are only 



157 

a shadow, your mind, soul and body only a shadow, a 
system of shadows. If you see the sun, the heaven and 
its rainbow, you only see their images ; when you go 
into your heavenly world, you will only see shadows of 
more pleasing and delightful appearance ; heaven, 
earth, and the whole universe, are only shadows of the 
mind. 

Here is Theology and Metaphysics side by side. Thus 
giving the reader to judge which of the systems are the 
most ridiculous ; therefore, from a strict examination of 
all the tenets of the Christian creed, that of the general 
resurrection is the most preposterous ; that the endless 
millions of beings which existed through time, whose 
dust has resolved into its original elements, reunited 
thousands of times into animate and vegetable bodies, 
in sea and land, would require a thousand times greater 
effort or power than in his first creation of man ; which, 
increased by natural progression, to uncounted millions, 
that should, at the last day, be called into existence out 
of sea and land, by a flourish of trumpets ; although the 
elements of their bodies at the time are incorporated into 
trees, minerals, fishes of the sea, and fowls of heaven, 
and immediately to change their mortal into immortal 
bodies, in the twinkling of an eye ; although Moses 
states that God created the world by a due process of 
time, although there was nothing to measure time by, 
until the machinery of the universe was put in motion. 
The sun, the mighty sun, the central attraction and axis 
of the universe, self-balanced, floating in liquid ether, 
around which his satellites revolve ; he, being the cen- 
tre of attraction and motion, from which all motion be- 
14 



158 

gan, heaven^s grand architect having previously sta- 
tioned his surrounding orbs, being self-balanced in their 
orbits, put his mighty hand to the central power-wheel, 
the sun, which gave motion to the universe, time only 
commencing with motion ; therefore, no time but a 
gradual process can philosophy admit in the creation of 
the world ; thus showing that the founder of the Chris- 
tian system of religion neither gave time, space or pro- 
cess for anything he said or done ; all dubious and in- 
consistent with science, sense or reason, tending more to 
distract the reader than to enlighten the understanding. 
It is astonishing to see the designing duplicity in the 
writers of the New Testament, to conceal the true 
meaning of their motives or reports by the ambiguous 
style of their contradictory statements ; none of them 
stating their personal knowledge of the case, but vague 
reports of the belief of their interested party. 

Here is given a concise illustration of Metaphysical 
Theology as the shadows of delusive sciences, or imagery 
of deceitful minds, bewildering instead of enlightening 
the understanding. 

Lastly, John's Revelation, said to have been written 
on the Isle of Patmos, ninety-six years after the reported 
ascension of Jesus to heaven, and only heard or read 
the book of miracles, the sayings and doings of Jesus 
and his apostles and party, and John only a fictitious 
character, to close and seal their wonderful book of 
miracles and deceptive imagery, by their learned con- 
clave at Rome, where they kept systematizing and 
strengthening their hierarchy, power and splendor, until 
it was exposed and denounced by two of their cardinals, 



159 

Martin Luther and John Calvin, who openly denied their 
blasphemous assumption of power to forgive sins, or any 
other powder than that obtained by fraud and deception, 
and that the Revelations is only a splendid drama or 
closing farce of the New Testament; as the language 
of the evangelists was vulgar, dubious and contradic- 
tory as that of their master, and that the revelations, 
generally gorgeous like Homer's diction of the gods, or 
Milton in his fanciful flights of imagery, therefore vulgar 
minds never wrote it, or closed it with anathemas of their 
master Jesus, believe in me and be saved or disbelieve 
and be damned ; and he thataddeth or diminishethfrom 
or to the words of this book of the New Testament, 
God shall strike his part out of the book of life ; such is 
the arbitrary denunciation to silence them that dared 
dissent or expose their self-devised system of abomination 
and damning blasphemy against God and the intellectual 
senses of man. 

Summary. 

There is nothing new in the miraculous report of wo- 
men being got with child by spiritual beings, w^iich is 
only a play upon words, to convey a false idea under the 
garb of spiritual names applied to mortal beings ; give a 
man the name of holy ghost, holy priest, holy saint, or 
spiritual father, spiritual sister or wife, all meant to con- 
vey a dubious meaning, by artful words ; the apostles 
carried with them spiritual sisters, the Mormons spiritual 
wives. It is comnion by some religious sects of women 
to state their religious conceptions by a spiritual father 
or brother, or holy prophet or priest ; it is the general 



160 

routine of the popish priest, in his confessional, to as- 
sume by the power of transubstantiation of his body into 
that of God, to give barren women issue, sanctifying 
them by his holy embrace ; like Simon Peter, being so 
filled with the Holy Ghost, that diseased persons passing 
through his shadow were immediately healed. 

The first spiritual conception of ^vomen, that history 
informs of in the Bible, when the sons of God saw the 
daughters of men fair to look upon, 

" Forsook the skies. 
And lost their heaven for wonaan's eyes — " 

their heavenly offspring being men of high renown. 
Second, Samson's mother being visited in the fields by 
an angel in the shape of a beautiful man, conceived a 
man child, by him, destined to become a judge of Israel, 
and to conquer his enemies. Third, Abraham's wife was 
visited by an angel and promised a son to bless the 
world. Fourth, Samuel's mother petitioned the high 
priest, Ely, for a son, which was granted, and when four 
years old, presented to his father, who raised him to 
be a priest and prophet, to make and crown kings at 
pleasure. Fifth, Elisha, the prophet, being kindly en- 
tertained by a barren lady, gave her a son to heir her hus- 
band's great estate. Sixth, a princess of Rome conceived 
twin sons by the god Mars, who became kings of Rome. 
Seventh, Mary conceived a son by a newly-discovered 
spiritual being called Holy Ghost, who w^as born to be 
a priest, prophet and king of the Jews, but failed of 
this dignity, and only received on Mount Calvary a 
mock robe and crown of thorns. 



161 

There is sufficient testimony to believe that there is 
conceived in popish confessionals, thousands of children 
annually born of woman, begot by spiritual beings called 
holy priests of mortality, ever since king and priestcraft 
ruled and cursed the w^orld ; and that the greatest de- 
gree of sensuality is practiced under the garb of religion. 
One new idea in religion will generally make a new sys- 
tem. Methodism began in Europe, with conversion, 
night meetings, love feasts to God and man, w^ith the 
friendly salutation of sister, brother and spiritual father, 
w^ith Saint Paul's injunction, " Salute each other with a 
holy kiss,'' but found in its results more sexual than spirit- 
ual worship, and therefore discontinued it. This makes 
a final close on modern and ancient Theology and Meta- 
physics, the shadows of delusive science ; and if the 
reader w^ill take the tenth part of the penetrating thought 
to understand the contents of this book it will make him 
a happier and more enlightened man. 



14# 



162 



PHILOSOPHICAL VIEW OF THE SCRIPTURES 

AND NATURAL REVELATION. 

Which is best entitled to credit, as a true criterion of faith 

and practice, the revelation of God in his works of 

creation J or books written by fallible men? 

At the early periods of the world, when superstition, 
bigotry and traditional tales composed the chief part 
of history, in patriarchal governments, where each head 
of a family or tribe exercised parental authority like the 
Chinese Emperor, father of his people through life, with- 
out any general compact or written law to direct or 
control his precarious judgment ; men seeing the injus- 
tice of this kind of government, where the strong go- 
verned the weak, without justice or equity, loudly called 
for a more equitable plan of government, w^here their 
rights and privileges would be better respected, and en- 
able them to live more comfortable and happy ; this 
rational object being easier conceived than practiced, 
human reason being yet in its infancy, yet they had from 
the phenomenon of nature, a conception of an infinitely 
wise projector and governor of the world by the invariable 
laws of harmony and order ; with a design of bountifully 
supplying all living creatures on earth, and man the lord 
and governor of them all ; and that a government de- 
vised in imitation of infinity, where all would have the 
right in the free and fair participation of nature's bounty, 



163 

the earth for a habitation, and the seas for an inheritance, 
so that the whole human family might enjoy his, like 
other social tribes of the earth ; the dove, the lamb, the 
stork, who feeds his aged sire, in reciprocating the kind 
oflfices of his parents, and live in general amity with 
each other. These truths taught by nature, the only 
true teacher, where intriguing design dwells not, but 
truth, love and kindness, like the glorious luminary of 
day, renewing his daily visits to cheer, light and enlighten 
the surrounding worlds and bless them with his vivify- 
ing beams ; thus showing to man's senses, God's revela- 
tions in his works of creation as a result or imitation for 
man to copy after the grand original, trusting to Infinite 
Wisdom for a happy result ; when they agreed to choose 
out the wisest men in their estimation to carry out their 
designs, composing a dignified body, to be called a grand 
hierarchy or sacred government, to learn and teach the 
mysteries and wisdom of God. This rational design of 
the- people w^as easier devised than accomplished, as men 
of that period of the world being destitute of the reason- 
ing power of the mind, we of the present day being 
more learned in the science of God and nature, than in 
the early periods of the world could have attained, which 
only teaches the true laws that God has impressed on 
nature, for its invariable government ; this being the 
limit of human knowledge, man's fathom line in the 
ocean of materiality ; and, man being terrestrial, his 
knowledge is limited to the observation of surrounding 
objects of visible nature, which only extends to the orbit 
of Herschel, with his six mirrored moons, to concentrate 
the feeble rays of the far-off sun. Who that has sense 



164 

enough to know his limited capacity, would presume the 
wisdom or secrets of infinity, when not one in a thou- 
.sand probably knows the constitution of his own mind 
or body; this is lamentably true. 

** Although the God in other spheres be known, 
It's only ours to trace him in our own.'' 

This hierarchical government being invested in power, 
increasing their numbers, and strengthening themselves 
by tyrannical and oppressive laws, became more arbi- 
trary than the patriarchal government, and became so 
numerous and licentious, that they debased the virtue of 
woman, and dignity of man, carried up to this day, with 
their prison-houses, inquisitions, bastiles, nunneries, and 
secret dungeons, for those who dare attempt the exposure 
of their abominations. So incensed was that philanthro- 
pist, Stephen Girard, with the false and clashing doc- 
trines of theology, that in his last will, he debars all 
ecclesiastics, missionaries, or ministers of any sect what- 
ever, to hold or exercise any station whatever, or be ad- 
mitted as a visitor, into the college, or its premises, and 
held them as a plague spot on the body politic. Such 
is the severe but well-merited censure of Stephen Girard, 
the benefactor and censor of a deluded w^orld. He ex- 
plains and justifies his proceedings in this case, taking 
uncensurable grounds in his defence, as follows : " In 
making this restriction, I do not mean to cast partial 
reflection, but as there are such a number of clashing 
doctrines and sects among them, producing unsocial and 
unfriendly feelings against each other, I desire that the 
teachers of this college shall instill into the minds of the 



165 

scholars the purest principles of morality, love, truth, 
sobriety, industry, and strictly honorable procedure 
with their fellow man ; and I especially desire, that by 
every proper means, to instill a pure attachment to our 
pure republican institutions, as governed by our happy 
constitution ; to teach the scholars the practical duties 
of a dignified life, but not the sectarian dogmas of theo- 
logical imagery, baseless as the phantoms of a disordered 
brain." Here is the essence of Girard's bequest to edu- 
cate destitute orphans ; to rescue the young victims from 
the penitentiary, qualifying them for honorable stations 
in life, the cabinet, the field, or the ocean. Few men's 
character would stand the test of moral rectitude equal 
to Mr. Girard's. He was a practical and theoretical 
moralist ; a clear-headed, strong and generous-minded 
man ; unlike Solomon of old, whose vain temple was 
built by the blood and spoils of surrounding nations, and 
his city of abomination, supported by the toil and honest 
income of his subjects; he moralized, and violated every 
moral principle he taught, and set the most degrading 
and sensualizing example to the world ; humiliating 
woman, for the sensual gratification of animal nature ; 
and his polluted city and temple now lies in ruins, and 
he in the cold tomb, to lie and rot, disdained by men, 
and by heaven forgot ; whilst Girard's temple of moral 
beauty will stand whilst virtue has a friend, or vice a 
foe, and'he will pass on to posterity as a benefactor, a 
philanthropist, and able support of our republican insti- 
tutions : 

" WhiKt kinj^s and priests shall to the earth be hurled, 
Their name and nature witliered from the world.*' 



166 

Here again is a true parallel, drawn between the 
hierarchal and republican man : one through life pursuing 
the undeviating course of an honorable merchant, by 
land and sea, to enable him to assist and devise useful 
enterprise in himself and others, strengthening the arm 
of our beloved republic in time of need, cheering and 
aiding desponding humanity in its most awful affliction, 
(the yellow fever,) at the risk of life and fortune ; per- 
forming like the good Samaritan all the duties of a good 
citizen to his country and fellow creatures, and finally 
leaving a vast fortune to the most benevolent institutions 
ever projected by man, to enlighten the understanding 
in useful knowledge, and spurn with contempt the sec- 
tarian bigots, preachers, and teachers of false miracles, 
false doctrines, and disturbers of the peace and happi- 
ness that God evidently intended, from the order and 
harmony of nature, meant as a model of government for 
man to copy, and all creatures below him, and in a great 
measure counteract the extremes of the four elements 
that our world is composed of; and by knowing the 
science of mind, compose its turbulent passions into har- 
monious tranquillity and happiness. Such is the power 
bestowed by Almighty wisdom on man, for his govern- 
ment, independent of books, written by designing men, 
as a merchandise of false systems, to bewilder and de- 
lude the world. 

We shall now return, to give a more full explanation 
of the progress of human knowledge, as heretofore 
stated, of a trial of an exclusive hierarchy, to divine 
the wisdom and will of God, to a happier issue of an 
equitable government ; but in this they were wofully 



167 

mistaken ; for no sooner had the priests established 
themselves in power, than they increased their numbers, 
and exacted a tenth of their national income, to support 
their vanities and extravagances, and dissensions about 
their bewildered creed and doctrine ; divining revelations 
of their own, and selling them as that of God ; wherein 
they attributed all the evil dispositions and w^ickedness 
that man, in the deceit of his heart, could devise ; 
preaching to the people that God created good, and 
created evil, and that both good and evil was justifia- 
ble in carrying out their designs; thus attributing to 
God all the desolating wars and massacres and robbery 
they had committed ; whereas this glorious world other- 
wise might have been, as God intended it to be, a para- 
dise of plenty, peace and happiness, for all the human 
family. 

These truths may be a caution in a political as in a 
moral view, to never trust power in the hands of a titled 
hereditary king, priest or prophet ; so sure as you do 
your liberty, peace and prosperity are gone; beware of 
a concentrated government, there is treason against the 
people in the very w^ord ; state sovereignty and a general 
executive government is the only true imitation of God's 
central luminary, around which its satellites revolve, 
giving and receiving light, strength and beauty to and 
from each other. The Union, the whole Union, sealed 
by the best blood in republican veins, (with one excep- 
tion, the dark plague-spot on our Southern horizon, 
which due time and circumstances will obliterate to the 
interest of all parties, North and South ;) and silent be 



168 

the tongue, and palsied the arm that would not strike in 
defence of the Union. 

Having so far shown that neither the primitive patri- 
archal or ecclesiastical governments were congenial to 
the general sense of the people, they next require a go- 
vernment of judges, and choose men of extraordinary 
powers of body and mind to devise means to conquer their 
enemies. Warriors for the field and sages for the cabi- 
net ; little more can be said in favor of the judges' go- 
vernment than the former, yet it may not be amiss to 
give the character of the most noted who judged Israel, 
for twenty years, which, according to the interpretations 
of his mother's account, was conceived by an angel in 
the shape of a beautiful man, like Mary's conception by 
a ghost, and was born to redeem Israel from the yoke of 
the Philistines ; this he attempted in several ways, both 
in wisdom and strength, killing one thousand Philistines 
single-handed, with the jaw bone of an ass, and impri- 
soned by his enemies, broke out, and carried off the 
massive gates of the prison on his shoulders, likewise 
destroyed the corn of the Philistines by catching foxes 
and lighting firebrands to their tales ; marrying a wife 
of the enemies of his nation, who betrayed him to his 
enemies, who put his eyes out, to use his strength in 
driving a horse mill. Here is a specimen of the sense 
of the people at that day. 

The Israelites who sprung from Shem, the eldest son 
of Noah, by regular succession to a noted patriarch of 
the name of Abraham, whose history has come to us 
since the deluge, and carried up through the Jewish 
dynasty to a newly-discovered religion and worship of a 



169 

triple God, consisting of a Father, Son and Holy Ghost, 
was estahlished in about the year four thousand of the 
worl<l : this new dynasty, without any testimony to sup- 
port its miraculous doctrines, was devised and established 
by Jewish cunning and cupidity over the dying delusion 
of Jewish idolatry, and carried as a basis for the new, 
with all the chicanery that Moses, Aaron and Joshua, 
priests and prophets, practiced on the Jewish people, 
with additional deception and miracles, to practice on 
their new convertg, thus making a grand speculation 
by the sale of their converts' estates, forgiving sins, 
casting out devils, healing diseases, with all the trick 
and cunning, of the Jewish high priests, who called 
their master the prince of devils, as no other spirit on 
earth had power to cast out mortal devils; thus did 
these emissaries of satan wander over the earth, and 
instead of following their humble occupation of catching 
fish, they caught men and w^omen, body, soul and es- 
tates ; bartering, like their master, heavenly happiness for 
earthly treasure ; which, at this enlightened day would 
send them to the penitentiary, for obtaining property 
under false pretences, and furtJier show that shrewd 
Peter, the prime leader of the apostles, who preached 
the forgiveness of sins by implicit faith in the new reli- 
gion, and to believe that all the wisdom of the world, 
philosophy, science, sense and reason was foolishness, 
and that their insidious system of sectarian darkness, 
dark as fraud could weave, was the only true religion 
of God. This, Peter, the leader of the apostles, preached 
up until his master was arraigned, tried and condemned to 
die on the scaffold for disturbing the tranquillity of the 
15 



170 

nation, by assuming the power of God, in his person, 
although his divinity could not save him from a felon's 
death on the cross. Thus, the apostles who saw their mas- 
ter die with two mortal felons on the scaffold, seeing their 
air-built temples of delusion vanish, all forsook him and 
fled, and Simon Peter, their leader and chief, who swore 
fealty to his master, then foreswore himself by denying 
him three times; however, on the third day after the cru- 
cifixion, the apostles assembled to consult on the pros- 
pects of yet carrying their designs in^o effect, when that 
abandoned woman of the town, w^hom they previously 
proselyted to their schemes, Mary Magdalene, cam.e and 
informed them that their master had, as he said, rose 
from the dead, but they disbelieved, as w^oman is easily 
induced to aid in carrying out any designs, that appear 
to result to her advantage. She spread the tale broadcast 
to all interested in the grand speculation, reviving lost 
hopes, and ruined energies, called a large public meeting 
to meditate and pray; then they feigned to be filled 
with their newly-discovered deity the Holy Ghost ; to 
speak as the spirit giveth utterance in incomprehensible 
jargon; some of the Ipokers-on doubted, others said 
they w^ere filled with wine and drunken, but the most 
rational description would be the action of deceptive 
maniacs, to excite the credulity of the superstitious and 
ignorant people, generally prone to believe what they 
cannot comprehend. After the apostles performed this 
grand exhibition of receiving the Holy Ghost, they 
feigned themselves so sanctified, that they could yet at- 
tain to that pinnacle of glory and power, promised 
them by their master, a hundred fold more houses and 



171 

lands in this world, and crowns of glory and thrones in 
heaven ; inducements sufficient, if believed, to stimulate 
the energies of men of higher intellect than the illiterate 
fishermen of the sea of Galilee. After this grand flourish 
of deception, they commenced performing miracles on a 
grand scale, even out-doing their master; Simon Peter, 
being the grand magician, pure in body and spirit, so 
that if diseased persons passed his shadow or touched 
the hem of his garment or his holy person they were in- 
stantly well ; this maniacal delusion, was not confined 
solely to the disciples or apostles ; the contagion spread 
into taverns amongst the bacchanals who raised their 
dead, and cast out their devils, by the same process, 
name and language, as the apostles used. The next 
grand speculative move Peter made to enrich his party, 
was to induce their converts to sell their places and give 
the money into the hands of the apostles. This insidi- 
ous trick was carried on to a ruinous extent, as they 
wandered over the earth preaching up alms for the poor 
saints, as all their converts were sainted by Peter remit- 
ting their sins, and disposing of their properties for com- 
mon use; this, like the fraudulent delusion of the Mil- 
lerites and Mormons, should confine them to the state 
prison. 

The next observation is to inquire how lawyer Saul 
became converted by such chicanery, he being an edu- 
cated man; and, in answer, state tliat all educated men 
are not men of penetrating minds, and the greatest num- 
ber only educated partially in the branch of their selected 
profession, and that their minds are more limited in 
general knowledge than those that have received the 



172 

full routine of a finished education ; that there are 
numbers at this day of lawyers, doctors and visionary 
preachers in direct opposition to scientific knowledge, 
sense or sound reason^ and that Saul being accessory to 
the murder of fanatical Stephen, compunction being the 
chief cause of his joining the ascending parties, and that 
if it is PauFs preaching, that is stated in the New Tes- 
tament, it is contradictory, immoral, nnphilosophical, 
puerile and undignified ; he preached morals and licensed 
immorality ; he taught traditionary tales, baseless as the 
phantom of a dream, about Melchisedek, without begin- 
ning of day or end of time, and Abraham offering up his 
son Isaac, and the Lord swearing that as he was willing 
to offer up his son he would bless him, and his posterity 
should possess the most improved kingdoms of the earth ; 
he likewise undertook to prove the resurrection by a 
grain of wheat buried in the earth, renewing its life after 
its dissolution ; this is unphilosophical, the grain of corn 
when put into the earth, possessed a living vegetable 
spirit, which, by its gradual decay, infused its spirit into 
a new^ grain ; but animal body, after death and burial, 
possess no spirit of life to reanimate the dead body. 
Jesus being interrogated on the resurrection, gave as a 
proof, the burning bush. What proof was Moses^ gas light 
behind the bush, to prove the resurrection from the dead ? 
I respectfully ask, are not these baseless proofs of the 
resurrection ? And yet there is nothing more satisfac- 
tory given. The story of the resurrection bears its own 
condemnation on its face. Jesus being laid after his 
death in an open charnel house or sepulchre, for embalm- 
ing his body, the corpse being given up to counsellor 



173 

Joseph, to do as he pleased, as the law had no power 
over it ; thus giving the party of the deceased a full op- 
portunity to carry out the scheme of the resurrection. 
The Jewish priests stated that they removed the corpse 
the second night after his crucifixion, and buried it ; no 
human eye ever saw it, after being put in the ground, 
and that Mary Magdalene, a harlot of the town, out 
of whom it is said seven devils were cast, whose 
oath or word would not be taken at this day, on the 
most trifling matter, was the first to report the resur- 
rection of Jesus, she being initiated into the grand 
scheme of aggrandizement, as an associate, olRciate, and 
spiritual sister of the apostolic school, was the authority 
from which the resurrection and confirmation of it 
sprung; a sandy foundation, on which to establish the 
faith of a credulous world. A story brought on such a 
basis, and such clashing testimony, before our high 
courts of chancery, where the merits of the case are 
clearly elicited by deep penetrating judges, would be 
spurned with contempt, and considered as fanatical and 
delusive. It is grievous to think that men of common 
sense, on common things, should give implicit faith to 
sectarian doctrines of religion, and on which they stake 
their future salvation, without critically examining their 
truth or falsity. Here is a brief construction of the 
Christian faith, held to be essential to future salvation, 
by ignorant men, whose learning extends no further than 
making their nets, and hauling in fish ; a sample of such 
can ybt be seen along our great bays antl rivers, as far 
as the coast of savage Labrador; these men are by our 
own interested preachers held uj) as burning and shining 



174 

lights to the darkened world. Alas ! that superstitious 
ignorance should at this enlightened day sway the scep- 
tre of reason^ philosophy, science, and common sense. 
As these uneducated men were incapable of composing, 
describing, or explaining any thing they said or done, 
and not understanding either themselves or the subject, 
the disputes about their doctrines divided them, each 
teaching doctrines of their own divining — Peter disobey- 
ing the injunction of his master, who expressly stated 
that his mission was only to the Jews ; but shrewd 
Peter, finding the Gentiles more gullible than the Jews, 
and that he formerly caught all kinds of fish in his net, 
caught Jew and Gentile, as opportunity offered ; the 
Jew being generally dissatisfied and oppressed by the 
exactions and sacrifices of their fat cattle, the drunken- 
ness of the priests, and heathenish worship, gladly em- 
braced any chance that would ameliorate their condition. 
On the other hand, the Gentiles being told that they 
were cast out from God's people, like a diseased limb of 
the tree of eternal life, and now offered salvation, on the 
condition that they would be engrafted on the stock, 
and their new discovered triple deity, consisting of 
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and be baptized and saved 
by their faith. This offer the Gentiles gladly accepted 
by thousands in a day ; and thus by this insidious pro- 
cess, these illiterate fishermen converted millions from 
the faith and worship of one indivisible God, to that of 
the trinity. This is the true illustration of the process, 
whereby Christianity carried out its deluded votaries to 
this present day, by sending missionaries to convert the 
lost heathen, and initiate them into the system of Chris- 



175 

tian faith, instead of the useful knowledge of the 
sciences, which consists in the true knowledge of God, 
as shown in creation. All the true knowledge the world 
possesses, was discovered through the operations of 
nature — a chart given by God, to comprehend all things 
essential to his existence, peace, comfort and happiness 
in this life, and a strong natural desire for a continued 
existence of the soul in a purer and happier state in 
eternity. This is the teaching from God's book of na- 
ture, glowing with life, truth and light from the sun ; 
the burning eye of Deity, the light, life and glory of 
surrounding worlds ; the chart of nature, imprinted by 
Almighty wisdom. This is the true chart and compass, 
clearly designed for man to steer his course through life, 
without the distracting dogmas of theology. 

A few further remarks on what is held by theologians ; 
the scriptures as a standing rule for human action ; and 
close on that side of the subject. If the Bible is to be a 
book of standing reference, to judge of the propriety of 
human actions ; had it been written by men of reason 
and science, such as our sages of the revolution, philoso- 
phers, statesmen and scholars, deeply imbued with the 
science of equitable government, as well as the tyranni- 
cal despotism of the old world, where might, without 
right, was the governing principle, then they might 
claim at least the dignity of their historians. But this 
they cannot claim ; as from the first of Genesis to the 
last of Revelations, no qualified writer, except Josephus, 
is entitled to credit, as superstitious fable and miracle 
were intermixed with the consummation of any noted 
event, as in those days of priestly or kingly rulg, with- 



176 

out miracle or traditionary fable, it would not be credit- 
ed ; and as for the history of the New Testament — 
religious miracles, deception, and proverbial falsehood, 
are beneath an impartial and well-informed reader to 
credit. We are at a loss to know any thing more than 
names, real or fictitious. The evangelist Matthew over- 
shot his mark so far, as to give direct testimony of his 
false reports of the crucifixion of Jesus, his conception, 
disprovable by the laws of nature, and demonstrative 
testimony, against the belief of the sun being eclipsed at 
the crucifixion ; or an earthquake to rend the temple, 
and burst open the graves, and raise the *dead. The 
apostles preaching that Jesus was the first fruits of the 
resurrection, and Matthew, the evangelist, states that 
there was a resurrection of the dead three days previous 
to the resurrection of Jesus — none of the other evan- 
gelists supporting Matthew in his incredible report on 
the phenomenon of the crucifixion. Matthew is silent 
on the reported ascension of Jesus, but John says that he 
appeared again to all his disciples, Thomas being pre- 
sent, and Jesus' wounds being yet unclosed. Thomas 
knew his master by thrusting his hand into the spear 
wound in his side, and his fingers into the nail wounds 
in his, as nailed to the cross, and on the tenth day was 
out with his apostles, at the sea* of Tiberius, directing 
them to catch and eat fish. No two of the evangelists 
report the sayings, doings and miracles of Jesus, alike ; 
therefore their testimony before sensible judges would be 
invalid, and beneath the dignity of common sense. Their 
stories are all told by their own interested party, telling 
their o^vn miracles, without a particle of support from 



177 

any other source, but opposed to the science and sense 
of the world. The Jewish historian, Josephus, a learn- 
ed man, living at the time of the crucifixion at Jerusa- 
lem, gives it no other support than our own historians of 
the present day give of the fanatical Mormons or Mil- 
lerites. Nor did the brother of Jesus believe in him ; 
as when he was raving to his apostles, and giving them 
power to preach salvation to the world, in his name, 
w^ith power to cast out devils, forgive sins, raise the 
dead, and perform miracles by faith, even to cast moun- 
tains into the sea, his brother came to confine him, be- 
lieving him to be beside himself, chiding him sharply, 
saying, ^^ If you perform miracles, do it openly, and not 
secretly ;" for neither did he believe on him, nor had 
Jesus any credit, in or about Jerusalem, other than an 
impostor or fanatic ; nor could his apostles gain credi- 
bility, until after the grand overture of the reception of 
the Holy Ghost, when the whole company in the secret 
began to rav^ incomprehensible gihberish, stating it to 
be the different languages of the world, which, by the 
inspiration of the Holy Ghost, could teach them their 
new trinitarian doctrine ; and, sorrowful to relate, this 
insidious farce is played on the world, and rules it with 
a rod of iron, creating desolating wars on all who dare 
deny the truth of their so-called infallible system of 
Christian popery — worse than the heathen or pagan 
idolatry of the ancient world. The construction that 
these men put on the Jewish prophecies, in reference to 
Jesus, reported to be conceived hy the third person of 
their new invented divinity, born to be a prophet, priest 
and king of the Jews ; to sit on the throne of King 



178 

David, and reign forever. To support this designed 
story, every noted person in the Old Testament, from 
beginning to end, is construed by the new religionists to 
support their new dynasty ; but the writer has impar- 
tially and critically examined every Jewish prophecy 
throughout the Old Testament, and finds they have no 
direct allusion to any other nation, or any religious 
dynasty, but that of their own ; it being generally a 
national policy to cheer up a desponding people, dis- 
satisfied with their oppressive government, and eccle- 
siastic rule of religion and idolatrous worship, carried up 
through time, since the first altar was stained with the 
animal and human gore, by wicked Cain, on his right- 
eous brother Abel ; first commenced by animal sacrifices, 
and increased to hecatombs of human victims — fathers 
offering up their sons, and mothers their infants. Alas ! 
for bewildered man, and for his bev/ildered teachers ; 
blind leaders of the blind, wolves in sheep's clothing, 
whose tono-ues deliodit in blood, and their minds the 
instigation of evil. Paul, like all extempore preachers, 
spoke without premeditation, or correcting his subject, 
and cannot be relied upon. Sometimes he taught dog- 
matically positive, that if any one should teach any 
other doctrine than the evangelic doctrine, let him be 
accursed ; at other times he v;ould give full freedom of 
speech, by stating, "^ Prove all things, and hold fast to 
that which is good ;" thus leaving the unlearned to 
judge good from evil, or truth from falsehood ; thus de- 
molishing the whole system of creeds and doctrines. 

If Universalism be true, then neither faith or works 
could avail, man's destiny being irrevocably sealed by 



179 

universal salvation ; then might the reign of the dark- 
ages of the world again commence, when virtue, honor, 
truth, righteousness, and human happiness, would leave 
the W'Orld to a desolating anarchy ; the midnight assas- 
sin might perform his deeds of darkness, where no human 
eye could discover — he resting secure on the belief of 
universal salvation or redemption, both synonymous 
terms. Dangerous doctrine ; only fit for devils ; non- 
accountability to God, and only dreading the civil law 
of the land, which can punish actions clearly brought by 
legal testimony before it; and then by ignorant or 
credulous juries cleared of their crime. Therefore the 
creed of universal salvation should be considered as dan- 
gerous as popish cells of crime and absolution. 

The reason that the writer has so critically examined 
and exposed the Apostle Paul's doctrines is, he being 
chief expositor of the apostles' doctrines, whose autho- 
rity is quoted, and admitted as sound orthodox, as far 
as comprehensible, from the jarring element of the New 
or Old Testament, therefore they modelled a new^ system 
of religion, w^ith every lineament of the duplicity of the 
old, with additional experience of Jesuitical cunning, 
miracle and fraud ; living like the vagrant prophets of 
old, and the priests and Jesurts of France and Spain, and 
all popish kingdoms before the revolution, on the credu- 
lity and hospitality of both poor and rich. Thus did the 
apostles see before their eyes that ambitious elevation to 
powxr and glory, until they arrived at the splendid city 
of Rome, the emporium of the world, and made that the 
nucleus of central operation ; whereby shrewd Peter, 
carrying his master's commission and keys, to lock and 



180 

unlock the gates of heaven, to and against whom he 
pleased, called a council of his . dignitaries, and caused 
himself to be elected Chief Lord Bishop of Christendom, 
and Vice-gerent of God on earth, with power to bind 
the souls and bodies of men, to dissolve the bonds of 
wedlock, to annul the allegiance of the people from their 
government, the affection of a wafe from her husband, 
and his virgin daughters from virtue. This Peter and 
his successors are the images of the great beast that 
sitteth on the seven-hilled city of Rome, w^hose kingdom 
was full of darkness and blasphemy against God. This, 
by interpretation, is the beast wdth seven heads and ten 
horns, on whose forehead is written blasphemy ; this is 
the beast that has made the inhabitants of the w^orld 
drunk w^ith her fornications ; this is the type of the great 
w^hore of Babylon, who is the mother of harlots, and 
abomination of the earth — the Church of Saint Peter, of 
Rome. 

Here, after paying the tribute of a sigh for the de- 
parted glory of Rome, never to return to the w^orld, as 
long as the withering influence of Christian popery 
exists ; being too impure for heaven, too mean for 
earth ; allied to hell, no other spot but in its obscure 
grave — 



to lie and rot, 



Disdained by man, and heaven forgot." 

Popery is like Pandora's box, the embodiment of all 
evils on earth, but no hope at the bottom for the soul of 
man, according to Christian doctrine, but implicit faith 
in the church. Believe, and be saved ; disbelieve, and 



181 

be damned. Most imperious command and denunciation 
that ever issued from the lips of man ; but a fanatical 
enthusiast, Nebuchadnezzar, pronounced death on all 
who would not worship his golden image. Such is the 
denunciation of Christian bigotry, at this enlightened 
day, against the belief in dogmatical creeds and doc- 
trines, baseless as the image of chaos, or the phantoms 
of feverish brains, without a particle of rational sense to 
support a single tenet of their combined system of fable 
and falsehood. With a few more remarks, we shall 
close this side of the subject, showing the difference be- 
tween Protestantism and Popery. 

Popery reigned over the Christian world about the 
length of time of the Jewish dynasty, by a two-fold des- 
potism, over the bodies and souls of their Christian 
votaries ; with absolute power over their bodies, by 
their kingly power ; and over their souls, by spiritual 
power, received through the medium of the apostle 
Peter, who received it from Jesus, the illegitimate son 
of Mary, prior to her marriage with Joseph, who evi- 
dently received it from God, who gave him up all power 
in heaven and earth, which he transferred to Peter, with 
the title of King of Kings and Lord of Lords; Vice- 
regent of God on earth, but whose government was, and 
yet is, more wicked and bloody than any other that ever 
cursed the earth. This assertion is supported by gene- 
ral history tourists, as self-evident to tlie eye and ear of 
the traveler in popish countries ; and their degraded and 
uneducated votaries, when first coming into this country, 
and the pope sending his nuncio to our republic, to inform 
our government, that to keep the masses in ignorance, 
16 



182 

is the easiest way to govern them ; and that all that is 
required of the masses, is to read their manual, and pray 
on their beaded crucifix, and hundreds of thousands of 
them know nothing more. This is the way that the 
world has been kept from improving in knowledge, until 
the American and French revolutions, from which time 
to the present, with freedom of speech and press, the 
world has improved in every branch of useful knowledge 
and the dignity and comfort of refined life, more than its 
rulers have permitted it to do since God created man. 
All the comforts, enjoyments, and happiness we enjoy, 
are from an indulgent God, who created us with faculties 
congenial to his own, evidently designed as means to 
make us happy ; but our own evil teachings have cor- 
rupted our minds, causing unfriendly feelings, desolating 
wars, and unhappiness. ^^ Man's inhumanity to man 
makes countless thousands mourn.'' 

The difference between Protestantism and Popery is 
not much ; both twins of a false conception, nurtured 
sixteen hundred years in delusive error, baptized in 
blood, desolating wars, and rapine over the w^orld ; de- 
stroying the fair fruits of industry, and sowing sorrow 
and tears where God had planted joy. If protestantism, 
when it tore itself loose from the poisoning fangs of 
popery, had philosophically and rationally analyzed the 
discordant elements of which Christianity is composed, 
they would have totally severed themselves from the 
corrupt source from whence it sprang, and wisely de- 
vised a universal system, based on the invariable science 
of cause and effect — the operative principle, which Deity 
has impressed on all nature, for its universal government. 



183 

Cause and effect is the grand principle, on which crea- 
tive power has projected the universe to move as a 
whole, in united harmony. The devisement of just and 
wise cause always produces a happy effect, the evil de- 
vised cause always produces evil effect ; and this is the 
only criterion and standard of human action; this is the 
modus operandi of nature, wrote by the hand of Omni- 
potence; visible in all his works of nature, as a model 
of imitation, for man to govern himself by. This is 
God's revelation to man, in his book of nature; there- 
fore, they who understand the laws that govern nature, 
know all the laws of God that man can ever know, in 
his present state of earthly existence. Well and truly 
has Alexander Pope stated in his Essay on Man : 

" Know then thyself, presunae not God to scan ; 
The proper study of mankind is nnan.'* 

Man being a two-fold being, possessed of an organ- 
ized body and a spiritual soul, with a mind more capa- 
cious than any other terrestrial creature; wuth powers of 
body and mind to know and do what no other creature 
can do, to plan, devise, execute, produce effects from 
causes and combinations ; reason, compare, and minutely 
examine the result from the combination, truth from 
falsehood, right from wrong, sense from nonsense, pro- 
bability from improbability, what can or what cannot 
be done by man's limited capacity. These are the truths 
which science teach ; but now, miracles, trickery, false 
cunninii^, necromancy, magic, falsehood or deception ; 
but truths from the pure fount of science, which are the 
pure truths of God, that cannot lie ; truth being an 



184 

attribute of God, although smothered awhile by the in- 
terested creeds of fanciful delusion, can never die, but 
like the Phoenix, spring up brightly from the conflagra- 
tion intended to destroy it. Truth, being the essence of 
infinite purity, is like Himself, eternal. Truth even more 
dazzlino; bricrht than the veil Moses wore, when he de- 
scended from the Mount, his face yet glowing, it is said, 
with the effulgence of God, in personal conversation 
with him on the Mount — but with this exception, Moses^ 
veil w^as an external glare, to hide an internal decep- 
tion. 

Protestanism, in its descent from Popery, divested it- 
self from the grossest parts of its abominable practices, 
such as celibacy of their clergy, secret confessions of their 
wives and daughters, their priests' inability to forgive 
sins. Private confession of females, bore the self-evident 
design of private sins with a libidinous priest, holding 
sensuality in one hand, and in the other absolution for 
crime ; likewise denied the power of the mass, to release 
souls from purgatory for money, denied the power of the 
priest over other men, to give barren females issue ; this 
prerogative the priests always claimed over the bodies 
of the female sex ; the Catholic creed, not only in this 
but many others, is only an improvement on the Jewish 
system, the seal of religion being always best and easiest 
improved by sexual love ; this being the great auxiliary 
to religious doctrines all over the world — Gentile, Jew, 
Christian and Mohammedan — love to ourselves and 
hatred to those who do not join us. ^^ If any man hate 
not his father, mother, brother, sister and his own life, he 
cannot be my disciple."— Lt^ite xiv., 26. 



185 

^' I come not to bring peace on the earth but division, 
so that a man's household shall be his greatest enemy.'' 
Here is a blessing and curse from the same lips. 

*' He that believeth in me shall be saved, but he that 
doubteth and believeth not shall be damned." 

" Blessed is the poor, for theirs is the kingdom of 
heaven." 

If poverty is a blessing, nine-tenths of the old world 
are happy with the promised heaven. 

"It is as hard for a camel to go through the eye of a 
needle, as for a rich man to enter into heaven." 

Here in America there is scarce any poor ; let American 
freemen in our splendid republic, make their heaven here 
and be better prepared to enjoy heaven in eternity ; fear 
not, doubt not, God is just, and delights in the happiness 
of his creatures, in time and eternity. The seed of the 
righteous shall never, in our happy republic, beg bread. 
Protestants have further denounced mental reservation, 
which is the concealment of truth, if it should injuriously 
affect the credit or interest of their profession — as the 
priest is sworn to keep all things confessed to him secret, 
he likewise adjures his penitents to sacredly conceal and 
never reveal the secrets of the confessional, so that in 
two conflicting interests the truth cannot be told. The 
initiation oath in the secrets of popery, is held to be 
paramount to all others, therefore, all females that enter 
into a popish confessional are irrevocably sealed into the 
abominable doctrines of the church of Rome, and the 
truth cannot be obtained from an illiterate Catholic 
without expunging the doctrine of mental reservation, 
as applied in the courts of law; as popery has a salvo 
16* 



186 

for all things, a balm for the wounds of body and soul in 
their pernicious creed ; absolution for crimes of the 
deepest dye — unlettered men to commit crimes that God 
or man never sanctioned, crimes that the feeling heart, 
and tearful eye, and sighing mind, cannot forget, grim 
vengeance shall yet whet a sword that through their 
souls shall go ; some second Napoleon, the dread of 
crowned and mitred tyranny, shall, like the popish pri- 
son-houses of hell, the bloody inquisition, the nurse and 
curse and abomination of earth, that made the world 
drunk with the wine of her fornication and crime, and 
when bleeding earth could no longer bear its enormities, 
Napoleon, with his red thunder, blew its blighting name 
from the world, its bastiles and secret dungeons, nun- 
neries of virgin pollution, infanticide and crimes of the 
deepest dye ; the golden images in the pope's harem, he 
demolished with their dens of corruption, and cast them 
into the alchemist's crucible for coin to pay his conquering 
legions, to renovate a benighted world : dissenters like- 
wise denounced saying the mass in an unknown language, 
bowing or worshiping images, praying to saints, angels, 
imaginary deities or spirits below God, with many other 
idolatrous forms of worship, yet still retaining the origi- 
nal faith in a triple God-head, like the Brahman Idol, 
one crown covering a plurality of God-heads. The 
second and third persons in our trinity, not heretofore 
known to exist, either in heathen or Jewish theology, the 
second person, held to be the offspring of a woman, 
conceived by the third person called a Holy Ghost, not 
yet discovered whether he is of terrestrial or celestial 
origin, not being known on earth or worshiped by mor- 



187 

tals until about four thousand years after the date of the 
creation, nor discovered to exist until after the birth of 
Jesus of Nazareth, therefore, to reconcile Joseph, the 
husband of Mary, not to divorce her, as he threatened 
to do, started the report that his wife was got with 
child, prior to her marriage, by the Holy Ghost, and 
that she should bare a son, which should be a prophet, 
priest and king to redeem Israel, and sit on his forefa- 
ther's, King David's throne, and rule it forever. This is the 
incredible story on which Christianity is founded, without 
one particle of testimony, either philosophic, demon- 
strative, rational, or probable but rather a deep laid scheme 
of designing knaves to revolutionize the oppressive sys- 
tem of sacrificing their fat cattle, in their idolatrous 
worship ; as all revolutionary changes in religion or 
politics, is from oppression of arbitrary rulers. Miracles 
was the system of all religion of the world, and this de- 
signing Jewish conclave devised the miraculous concep- 
tion of Mary, by a newly-discovered deity, to carry out 
their new religion of faith and worship of a triple God, 
supporting their delusion, by a prediction of Moses, that 
God should raise up a prophet like unto him, whom they 
could hear in all things, with other visionary predictions 
of the Jewish prophets not at all applicable to Jesus of 
Nazareth, who was to be born king of the Jews, which 
only merited a crown of thorns, a purple robe, elevated 
to a scaffold, and executed between two felons. Such 
wull be the destiny of the delusive system of Christian 
doctrines throughout all its chameleon phases; it will 
work out its own downiall, like an aerial meteor, to burst 
into ether, its original composition. 



188 

Thus is given the exposition of Christianity from its 
origin to the present day. The following is the embodi- 
ment of the Christian creed, as taught and preached by 
Protestants and Catholics, whom Jesus and the apostles 
pronounced any other doctrine than this, let him be 
cursed and damned, and struck out of the book of eter- 
nal life. Here is the blasphemous denunciation on any 
man who denounces the following Christian creed — the 
writer daring their denounced thunder of sectarian 
fanatics, and fling back in their faces, to disprove any- 
thing said in this book, w^hich is based on philosophy, 
science, morals and one indivisible God, clear to be im- 
derstood in his visible creation, without deceptive mira- 
cle, trick, cunning, hypocricy or fraud, by which decep- 
tive means, Christianity was imposed on a bewildered 
world, and ruled it with a rod of iron, until America broke 
the charm and the French revolution cleared the chasm, 
and to a degree purified the polluted atmosphere of 
politics and religion. 

Now we shall close this side of the subject, by giving 
a clear expose of the Christian faith and doctrine as 
taught and acknowledged orthodox by Catholic and 
Protestant as the basis of their tenets, the writer dis- 
senting from all parts of it that is inconsistent with the 
known laws of philosophical science, which are the inva- 
riable truths which God has impressed on nature for its 
government. Here is the embodiment of the Christian 
faith in the apostles creed : 

We believe in God, the Father, Almighty Maker of 
heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only begotten 
son, conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost, in the 



189 

womb of the virgin Mary, born of her without sin, who 
suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and 
buried, descended into hell, the third day arose again, 
and ascended into heaven, sittino; on the rio;ht hand of 
God makino; intercessions for the sins of his believers; we 
believe in the Holy Ghost, the Holy Catholic church, 
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, and the 
resurrection of the body and life everlasting. Amen. 

If you depend on the salvation of your soul, on the 
doctrines of the New Testament, you must implicitly be- 
lieve ; and if you doubt, you are in danger of hell-fire; 
and if you disbelieve, you are to be damned. Here is 
the only terms that the New Testament admits of the 
salvation of human souls; as it states, without exception, 
that there is no other means of salvation under heaven, 
by which the souls of men can be saved ; and says in 
confirmation of this doctrine, let him be accursed who 
preaches any other doctrine ; even if an angel came 
from heaven, stating otherwise, you are not to believe 
him. This is a true exposition of the Christian doctrine, 
as taught by the New Testament, and colleges, and 
preached from every Christian pulpit in the world. Here, 
if Simon Peter, surnamed the Son of Thunder, by his 
master, to make his voice be heard over the earth could 
hear flashed back in his face the thunder of truth, and 
rational sense, instead of Jewish cunning, fraud and 
falsehood, by which insidious guile he raised himself and 
compeers to the highest pinnacle of earthly glory — he to 
be High Pontiff^ and IJishop of Rome, and Vice-gerent of 
God upon the earth, spiritual and temporal king over the 
kingdoms of the world, with the keys of heaven to open 



190 

and shut to whom he pleased. Thus these insidious 
blasphemers of God and man, the under-drift of society, 
deceived the world, by offering heavenly treasures and 
thrones for earthly riches ; by teaching, '' Sell what you 
have, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasures 
tenfold in heaven, that fadeth not away/' These are 
the kind of men that devised our system of Christian 
doctrine ; bewildering men and women, working their 
own miracles, telling their own tales, selling absolution 
for sins committed, and indulgences for crime yet to be 
committed ; seducing the fairest portion of God's creation 
into their dens of virgin pollution, and marriage bed, all 
under the garb of religious sanctity ; thus making a 
mundane merchandise of sale of their new doctrines, and 
keeping up the delusion to this day. 

On stating the aggregate number of souls on the earth 
to be one thousand millions, at five dollars per head, 
would be five thousand millions dollars annually paid to 
teach our offspring fabulous and false traditionary tales, 
bewildering instead of enlightening the understanding. 
This sum, if applied, would teach our posterity all useful 
knowledge that man can know, which consists solely in 
the arts and sciences of nature, which should be as Aris- 
totle taught it, in natural and mental philosophy, the 
phenomenon of the visible w^orld, and its causes and 
effects on mind and matter. This contains the limits of 
human knowledge ; further than this, man knows no 
more than the limits of space, or the origin of God ; all 
else is the ignis fatuus of delusive science, the chimeras 
of disordered brains. Lastly, on this side of the subject, 
show that all systems of religion, Pagan, Heathen, Jew, 



191 

Gentile, Christian, and Mohammedan, are based on ac- 
knowledging and remitting their sins, and all in different 
ways. The Israelites, by the aid of a scape-goat, the 
Catholic Christians, by power given them by their found- 
er Peter, who transferred it to their pope, who transferred 
it to his bishops, w^ho transferred it to their priests, who 
are bound by awful oaths to conceal and forgive sins 
confessed to them in the confessional, (confessing and 
forgiving only one at a time,) w'hereas Moses' scape-goat 
absolved millions at a time, when let loose in the woods. 
The Protestant Christians confess once a week, by a 
priest hired for that purpose, acknowledging their sins, 
and praying for forgiveness. In the wealthy families of 
Europe, it is yet the practice to have a family chaplain to 
perform family worship, as wealth can afford to pay for 
every requisite of life, political, religious or social. The 
sect of people called Quakers, being the most independ- 
ent and republican, at least in their religious devotion, 
hire neither priest nor prophet, harp, nor mechanical 
organ, nor bells, nor choirs, nor surplices, nor sacerdotal 
robes, nor any of the external paraphernalia of pagan or 
modern w^orship ; but silently, without ostentation, in 
their own meeting houses, without priest, pulpit or creed, 
other than silent on the duties of life, as the pagan am- 
bassador represented the synod of Rome, sitting gene- 
rally in silent council, like the gods, each in his turn 
getting up, and stating the result of his meditation on the 
most effectual means of happiness in time and eternity. 
Here, in one respect, the Quaker excels in liberal senti- 
ment ; the privilege of w^omen speaking in their religious 
assemblies, but not in their political forums, nature 



192 

having impressed on man's brow the dignified aspect of 
reason and command, as well in mind as body. Woman 
equally, if as well informed, is entitled to deliberation on 
the mild suasive admonition of love and happiness, in 
time as well as in eternity ; thus giving woman, heaven's 
last, best gift to man, all the dignity that nature design- 
ed, or the rational senses of man can grant. Heaven 
having given woman those milder virtues, w^hich endear 
her to man above all the masculine accomplishments that 
man can boast of, therefore sensible women can see that 
God and man have granted them all that good sense re- 
quired. Man has made her his bosom companion, the 
mother of his children, the partner of his joys, and sharer 
of his sorrows, bone of his bone, his heaven-anointed 
bride : 

<'And say, without our hopes, without our fears, 
Without the' home which plighted love endears ; 
Without the smiles from partial beauty won, 
Oh ! what were men ? a world without a sun — 
Till Hymen brought his love-delighted hour, 
Theie dwelt no joy in Kden's rosy bower; 
The world was sad, the garden was a wild, 
And man, the hermit, sighed till woman smiled.'^ 

It seems proper to represent this singular community 
of people called Quakers, clearer to be understood. 
During the entire reign of Christian popery, when a 
bleeding world was under its feet, when earth could no 
longer bear its enormities, mercy loudly called for a 
release from popish rapacity, and unmerciful cruelty. 
Thousands tore themselves loose from the withering 
blight of Christian popery, at the sacrifice of life, fame 



193 • 

and fortune, when a war of confiscation and extermina- 
tion, imitating the Jewish example of destroying the fair 
kingdoms of Canaan, and possessing themselves of lands, 
cities, houses, and vineyards, that they never labored 
for. This Christianity, the antitype of Jewish cupidity, 
practiced on their dissenting brethren, like the British 
Christians on America, denouncing thunder from the pul- 
pit, and extermination from the throne, on all dissenters 
from their creeds and doctrines, or its tyrannical rulers, 
and undoubtedly would yet be practiced on the world, if 
wiser and more humane law did not prevent. Such is 
the exterminating spirit of religious bigotry, from the 
earliest pages of history to the present day; and won- 
derful to relate, after thousands tore themselves loose 
from the poisonous fangs of popery, not two communi- 
ties of the dissenting party could agree on a standard, or 
general system for the whole; but each again exploded 
like spangled stars of a sky-rocket — each forming a cen- 
tral attraction of its own contracted orbit, their standard 
book of Scriptures being so ambiguous, contradictory, 
and unlearnedly wrote, by men grossly ignorant of 
science or common sense, except the cunning of sophis- 
try, trick, magic and miracle, as to be beneath the notice 
of any man of science and sound understanding — to be- 
lieve in any thing that relates to the theological systems 
of religion, in books written by ignorant and deceptive 
men, other than tricks and assumption of supernatural 
power, to raise themselves rulers or dignitaries over their 
fellows; and that all the religious systems in the Old 
and New Testament, bear the image of deception on its 
17 



• 194 

face, which cannot be hid from the penetrating powers 
of reason and understanding of men. 

The aforesaid quiet and peaceable community of 
Quakers, not being satisfied with any new system or 
new combination of the old corrupt doctrine, wisely and 
thoughtfully divested the old complex system of Chris- 
tian popery of all external theatrical scenery; and with- 
out pride or vanity, adopted the pure spiritual worship 
of one indivisible God, without ceremony, creed or doc- 
trine, further than his meditating and reasoning faculties 
suggest ; thus returning to the religion of Adam, prior 
to its adulteration by speculative theorists. This divest- 
ment of all forms of theatrical worship, was brought 
about by deep reflection on the numberless unmeaning 
creeds and clashing doctrines of scriptural imagery — be- 
wildering, instead of enlightening the understanding. 
This retrospective view of religious duties, led the 
Quakers back to the primeval worship of God in Para- 
dise, which gushed spontaneously from the happy soul 
of Adam, unadulterated by sectarian bigotry. This pure 
worship of one indivisible God will eventually be the 
worship of the enlightened world, then will be the long 
wished-for millennium ; and then peace and plenty, virtue 
and happiness, will reign on earth. One altar, one wor- 
ship, one heaven for the righteous, and one merciful God 
for the errors of mankind : 

" Then will the reign of mind on earth begin, 
And peace, and truth, and virtue dwell therein.^' 

Here we close with a few observations on the fore- 
going history of Christian creeds and doctrines, as based 



195 

on the evidence of the New Testament, and state, that 
with an impartial examination, and with the chief motive 
to discover truth from falsehood, rational sense from non- 
sense, fraud and duplicity from candor, honesty and 
honor, must state on the candor and honor of man, that 
I have found the New Testament unsupported in truth, 
for any thing said or done in that book, from the begin- 
ning to end ; and as no two sects of religion can agree 
on its ambiguous and incomprehensible jargon, it cannot 
be considered a standard book of faith or practice, to men 
of rational sense or science, but a most delusive system 
of trick and miracle, that was ever practiced on a credu- 
lous world, by unlettered knaves and fanatics, to raise 
themselves into power and prerogative over the world; 
and what is yet to be more lamented, that the world is 
taxed to pay, according to the Christian standard of 
tithes, one-tenth part of the proceeds of human industry, 
to pay preachers and teachers of fabulous traditionary 
tales, baseless in truth as the imagery of chaos, prior to 
God's organization of it into harmonious order; thus 
taking the Christian population to be two hundred and 
thirty millions, averaging five dollars per head, rich and 
poor, which is far below the medium standard in monar- 
chical governments. As history accords King Herod's mo- 
narchy, under the guidance of his chief councillor, Joseph, 
favorite son of Patriarch Jacob, whose designing villany 
caused an artificial dearth, by which deceptive means he 
brought the whole kingdom of Egypt into bondage under 
his master, exacting one-fifth of the produce of the soil, 
as a right of fraudulent contract, that might make it bind- 
ing. This fifth is a standard claim of monarchy to this 



196 

day — one-tenth to the priest, and one-tenth to the king ; 
thus forcing their subjects to fight in support of their 
own bondage. This aforesaid five dollars per head, if 
judiciously applied to improved primary schools, would 
educate every soul in Christendom in the sensible duties 
of a happy life; instead of being applied, as it now is, to 
bewilder,- instead of enlightening the understanding ; to 
keep yp a grand hierarchy of delusive fraud, not only 
crver the Christian, but the universal world. This, alas! 
is the slow progress of human knowledge in the expe- 
lience of nearly six thousand years, although God has 
given man bodily and mental faculties, whereby to un- 
derstand all things essential to his own dignity, in con- 
nection with the happiness of his fellow creatures; but a 
generous education of both head and heart — the head for 
sharpening the intellectual knowledge, the heart for all 
the finer and warmer feelings of the souL This is gene- 
rally the fruits of a w^ell-educated mind, when impressed 
early; like an unsullied sheet of paper, time cannot 
remove the first impression, whether that impression be 
good or evil, false or true. In producing results, there- 
fore, the imperative duty of parents to give the first im- 
pression on the tender minds of their offspring purely; 
first, that of the heart, love, kindness, truth, virtue, 
honor, and honesty, with other of those friendly feelings 
that endears mankind in a social circle of friendship and 
good feeling, to all their fellow creatures ; next the intel- 
lectual improvement of the head, the knowledge of the 
science of nature, the invariable laws that God has im- 
pressed on all created things, for their self-government, 
wrote by the hand of Infinite Wisdom, so plain^ '^ that 



197 

they who run may read, and he that searcheth may find ;" 
pure, unadulterated by false creeds and bewildering doc- 
trines, invented by sectarian knaves to raise themselves at 
the expense of their deluded dupes of superstitious igno- 
rance, like the evil ones, to rule, to ruin, and betray. 

This kind of knowledge embraces all truths that man 
can know, he being an earthly creature, composed of the 
four elements, with an organized body and spiritual senses 
to understand the operations, causes and effects of visible 
creation, which is all man can truthfully know. This is 
the limit of human knowledge, and the only path that 
leads to the truth of a being we call God, and know no 
more. Therefore, all the oceans of blood spilt, and 
treasures spent, about jarring creeds, and theological 
systems of religion, since the day that wicked Cain slew 
righteous Abel, his brother, occasioned by the different 
sacrifices, vegetable or animal life, there the first altar 
reeked with human gore, with the pernicious doctrine 
taught, that there is no remission of sin, without shedding 
of blood — 'Tie that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my 
blood, hath eternal life. I will raise him up at the last 
day." Alas ! for bewildered man, basely imposed upon 
by knavish teachers. All human inventions, articles of 
saleable merchandise, greater in amount than any other 
trading commodity on earth, and yet steadily on the 
increase, and will continue, till the masses of the people 
become better educated. 

The writer's fate may yet be like the martyred Thomas 

Paine, who in the face of superstitious ignorance, attempted 

to teach the rights of man and common sense, which has 

always been considered treason against throne and pul- 

X7* 



198 

pitj leagued against the intellectual improvement of man- 
kind, since the very earliest records of the world, when 
man first understood the duplicity of outwitting his fellow, 
trick and cunning always outwitting simple credulity. 

Here has been given the general outlines of the princi- 
ples of Christianity theoretically and practically, as 
taught in colleges and preached over the Christian world, 
and close with a brief recapitulation and summary, thus 
leaving the reader to exercise his own impartial judg- 
ment on the contents of this subject, viz : which is the 
best entitled to credit as a standard of faith and practice, 
the revelation of God, in his works of creation, or books 
wrote by fallible men in the dark ages of the world, 
when fabulous tales and miracles w^ere substituted for 
I'ational sense and science, by self-interested men to raise 
themselves into power and privilege ? First, commence 
with the evangelist Matthew, who overreached the truth 
in his gospel so far, by the miraculous story of Mary 
being got with child by the Holy Ghost, not known to 
exist in heaven or in earth prior to that event ; next, 
Jesus being forty days and nights in the wilderness with- 
out sustaining food, in imitation of Moses on the mount, 
there tempted by the devil to worship him which he refused. 
Second, Matthew states that when Jesus was crucified, 
the veil of the temple was rent in tw^ain, with three hours 
eclipse of the sun, ^* and the earth did quake, and the 
rocks were rent and the graves were opened, and the 
dead arose and appeared to many in the holy city," and 
that on the third morning after the crucifixion, there was 
a second great earthquake by the angel of the Lord 
coming down and rolling the stone of the sepurchre open 



199 

and sat as a sentinel on it, who informed Mary Magdalene 
that Jesus had rose from the dead, and to go quickly and 
inform his brothers and disciples of the event; this Mary, 
out of whom Jesus formerly cast seven devils, was the per- 
son chosen to inform the world of the resurrection from 
the dead of Jesus. Such is the testimony offered as a 
basis for Christianity, its creed and doctrines, which mil- 
lions base their faith and salvation upon without exami- 
nation of its truth or falsity ; such is the apathy of in- 
considerate mortals on things that relate to their own 
prosperity and happiness. 

In reference to Matthew's genealogy of Jesus, who 
states him to have been begotten by the Holy Ghost, the 
third person in the trinity, his genealogy must have been 
heavenly, and not earthly, a jarring contradiction in 
judgment. Matthew and Luke give no general support 
to each other's statements, Matthew not supporting Luke, 
in the ascension of Jesus after his resurrection, Luke not 
supporting Matthew in the first resurrection from the 
dead by an earthquake and eclipse of the sun, and rend- 
ing the temple ; John does not support Luke or Mark, 
in the ascension of Jesus, after his resurrection, but dis- 
tinctly states that he appeared to his disciples on the 
eighth day after his crucifixion, when unbelieving Thomas 
was not convinced from personal observation, but by thrust- 
ing his hand into the spear wound in his side, and his 
fingers into the prints of the nails in the wounds un- 
healed; that on the tenth day he visited his disciples at 
the sea of Tiberius, dined with them and directed them 
how to catch fish, therefore neither Matthew nor John 
supports Mark or Luke in the miracle of their master's 



200 

ascension to heaven, thus disbelieving the apostles' creed, 
the main embodiment of the Christian standard of faith. 
Neither did the seventy disciples and apostles understand 
each other, the seventy carrying on John's baptism for 
the remission of sins, the apostles baptizing in the name 
of their new God-head, the Father, Son, and Holy 
Ghost; likewise, the contradictory sayings, equally as 
great between the apostles, about circumcision and ad- 
mission of the Gentiles into their new faith of religion, 
so that they split apart, each preaching such doctrines 
as their visionary mind suggested, fore-ordination — elec- 
tion — fate — salvation by implicit faith, moral and immo- 
ral, pernicious examples and designing frauds on the 
credulous and unsuspecting ; yet all unanimous in their 
grand object, that of gaining power and prerogative, 
still keeping in view the fulfillment of their master's pro- 
mise; thrones in heaven, and riches and honor, and un- 
limited power on earth; this they attained by fraudulent 
means, which according to the law of this enlightened 
day, would have consigned them to the penitentiary ; 
the apostles still continuing to make converts in this 
insidious way, preaching up alms for the poor saints, 
"sell what yon have and follow us,' and you shall have 
one hundred-fold treasures, here and in heaven." (Like 
the Israelites to the promised land of Canaan,) they 
wound their way to the great city of Rome, and estab- 
lished their grand hierarchy of central operations with 
Simon Peter, high bishop and pontiff of the Christian 
world ; after some time they were driven from Rome for 
attempting to revolutionize it by a conflagration of the 
city; however, they succeeded in increasing their army. 



201 

and gained several decisive battles, which induced the 
Emperor Constantine to believe that his success was 
by the prayers of their priests and bishops, and converted 
him to Christianity; he passing an edict in their favor, 
that no law should be passed without the consent of their 
priests and dignitaries, which elevated Christianity at 
once into supreme power gradually to its zenith. Such 
is the designing intrigues of religious dignitaries, of reli- 
gious duplicity, when applied to raise men into power 
and prerogative, like Moses and Joshua, with the con- 
quering millions of Israel, exterminated the fairest king- 
doms of the^ earth and invested themselves in lands, 
cities and houses, they never labored for, and that the 
new religion of Christianity was devised to revolutionize 
religious sentiment ; and like the leaders of the twelve 
tribes of Israel, under Moses, to raise themselves into 
power, as both parties carried out a similar design in a 
different way : Moses representing himself to be a pro- 
phet of God, Jesus representing himself the incarnate 
God, with a new sjstem of religion to his people, as the 
Israelites were taught to be the only people of God. 
Moses considered uncircumcised nations, only fit for stra- 
tagem and spoil, and chose twelve leaders in supporting 
and carrying into effect his designs; Jesus likewise chose 
twelve apostles to aid in carrying out his designs, with 
power to perform miracles like Moses and Joshua. 

Here is an impartially drawm picture, applicable to all 
religious systems over the w^orld, which by the true 
standard of philosophy and sound reason, would only be 
considered the elfusion of disordered brains or designing 
duplicity of interested men. This is Christianity, this is 



202 

Mohammedanism, this is Jewishism, this is paganism, 
which includes the world of mankind. Alas! thatmanex- 
erts not the self-dignity of God's intellectual image within 
himself, hut remains under pupihige from the cradle to 
the grave w^ithout examination, hence the necessity of 
every man enlightening his mind in every branch of use- 
ful knowledge necessary for his happiness and the welfare 
of his neighbor. 

This is the true procedure and economy of a happy 
life preparatory to the wished-for happiness in eternity. 
By computation, the salary annually paid to the clergy 
over the world, would endow and build a high school in 
every school district in the w^orld, and give our youths a 
finished education in every branch of practical knowledge 
equal to Girard College, teaching only good sense and 
morals, a clear understanding of all the essential duties 
of life, in their orbit of future business attending to one 
point like the convergings of God, the happiness of 
themselves with that of their fellow creatures, but no 
dark tangled doctrines of metaphysical theology. 

" Credit to whom credit is due.^' If the Jewish con- 
clave, with Zacharias the high priest, and the angel 
Gabriel at their head, the seventy disciples, twelve apos- 
tles, four evangelists, the wise men of the East, with 
Anna the prophetess, wath Simeon and other prophets, 
in all one hundred and twenty, with Mary Magdalene, 
the supreme abbess and messenger, to carry out their 
new scheme of religion and regain their lost nationality 
by setting on David's throne their new semi-deity, Jesus 
of Nazareth, asking of the Jews, if this scheme had been 
based on political chicanery, which admits of every de- 



203 

ception, cunning and knavery, to carry their party into 
power, they might, in a political point of view, be jus- 
tified ; if their object was to enlighten, instead of degrade 
the world, gain power and rule under the garb of reli- 
gious sanctity, ought to be execrated for assuming real 
virtues, and claiming them as their own emissions, known 
and practiced thousands of years before their day. As 
to the message of the angel Gabriel to Mary, stating that 
he was sent from God that she should conceive and bring 
forth a son, which would be called the son of God, to 
be called Jesus, to whom God would give the throne of 
King David to rule it forever ; and Mary said " Be it 
unto me according to thy word ?" showing clearly to 
an impartial reader, that the angel Gabriel was a man 
sent by the designing cabal to carry out their delusive 
scheme of spiritual conception ; and that Gabriel was a 
mortal man and the father of Jesus, and that God in the 
beginning created all things perfect, impressing invariable 
laws to govern the nature of all things invariable, he not 
begetting, but creating man and woman, of different 
sexes male and female, to beget their likeness and people 
the world. 

*' And ye believe it; oh, the lover may- 
Distrust the smile that steals his heart away; 
The babe may think that it can play, 
With heaven's rainbow far away ; 
The alchemist may doubt 
The shining gold his crucible gives out, 
But faith, fanatic faith, once wedded fast 
To some false object, hugs it to the last." 

As the science of physics and metaphysical theology 
may not be generally known, and as these words are 



204 

often used, as well as in the sciences, they belonging as 
in the explanation of other subjects, shall here close with 
the different meanings of physical science and metaphy- 
sical theology prior to the days of a deep student, the 
cause and effect of the phenomenon of nature. 

A heathen philosopher by the name of Aristotle, 
classed all human knowledge in physical science, where 
it properly belongs. Man being a terrestrial being, his 
knowledge is all confined to the horizon of his vision, 
and experimental observation of cause and effect, of 
passing events in the orbit of his knowledge; further than 
this, man knows nothing out of the sphere of his obser- 
vation, all his notions of a spiritual world are merely 
conjecture and speculative of an over-credulous w^orld, 
man, like the sea, bounded by the earth, can go no far- 
ther. After Aristotle had classed all human knowledge 
in physical science, its legitimate sphere, as being demon- 
stratively clear to the understanding of man, then specu- 
lative knaves commenced a new system in opposition to 
demonstrative science, to be called metaphysics, the 
science of spirituality ; being devoid of materiality purely 
ethereal, such as God, angels, good and evil spirits, in- 
habitants of heaven and hell, and held to be component 
parts of man. This is orthodox doctrine by all denomi- 
nations of people ; this is metaphysical theology, which 
consists solely on the shadow divested of substances ; 
theology being the expositor of the nature, quality and 
virtue of ethereal shadows, spiritual ghosts or souls of 
created or uncreated beings. This is metaphysical the- 
ology, the different interpretations thereof has cost the 
world rivers of blood and millions of treasure, and made 



205 

the paradise of God a world of sin and sorrow, and 
planted thorns where God had planted joy and happiness ; 
this is what kings and priests set the world to fight 
about ; this is why the grand Russian Bear, the maniac 
at large, is now setting Christian Europe at war 
against merciful Mahomet for opening his arms to save 
the noble Hungarians, from the vengeful fangs of the 
Czar ; Russian savage troops, women whippers, shedders 
of infant blood, the widow's wail, and the mother's 
cries ; this is the eighth Christian war made on the 
Turks, who only worship one spiritual God, we Christians 
worshiping a trinity of Gods, one of which is the son of a 
woman, but never can the world make the pious Ishmael 
bow his head in worship to a woman God. Alas ! for 
the superstitious bigotry of teachers, preachers and peo- 
ple never die but with the dissolution of the world, 
and here on the virgin soil of Protestant America, the 
home of the brave and the land of the free, a nation of 
philosophers, philanthropists, statesmen, defenders of 
the rights of man, on the field, and on the wave, the expo- 
sitors of the dignity of human rights of man the opposer, 
of the blasphemous presumption of kings, priests and 
prophets ; the crowning curse of a bewildered world, yet 
sending ambassadors to Rome, to bow or kiss the slipper 
of his holiness, and invite him to participate in the 
bounties of our grand republic, and build, in sight of our 
protestant capitol, one of his abominable popish seraglios, 
enticing our protestant daughters into the prison-house 
of violating virtue, under the guise of religious sanctity, 
by which more crimes are committed, than tongue can 
tell, or sight reveal. If in the ancient days, when Rome 
18 



206 

was free ; when her sons and daughters walked with the 
nobles of the land ; when god-like Scipio lived, the 
generous and good ; when Tully's voice, in the senate, 
thundered denunciation against dishonor, and supported 
the virtuous and the good ; when Rome sat on her seven 
hilled city, the adorning empire of our honored world ; 
then the friendly interchange would have been honora- 
ble to both ; but sooner will the opposite elements of 
fire and water assimilate, than republicanism and popery 
— the latter debasing and brutalizing the image of God 
in man, and souls and bodies of lovely woman. This is 
a true distinction between Christian popery and republi- 
canism. 

We shall now close this subject by the vision of John 
in the Isle of Patmos, who wrote his Revelation in the 
first century, after the crucifixion of Peter, the first Pon- 
tiff of Rome, which from the ambitious aims to grasp at 
power, reasonably concluded that the firing of Rome 
was a scheme of the Christian party to pull down Ro- 
man power, and raise themselves on its ruins, which the 
event fully verifies. Peter's ambitious power, being 
spiritual, never died in his party, but like the Phoenix, 
rose again from its ashes, by making Constantine, the 
Roman Emperor, believe that their priests possessed 
supernatural power over the gods, by a late discovered 
divinity, composing a trinity, worshiped as Father, Son 
and Holy Ghost. The initiation into this new religion 
was to be faith in its doctrines, and baptism in the name 
of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost ; this Constantine 
submitted to, and became a member of the Church of 
Rome. 



207 

From the date of Revelation, John couhl not have 
been one of the apostles, as he wrote in a loftier strain, 
being a better educated man. Therefore, all his know- 
ledge of the origin and propagation of the Christian doc- 
trine, was taken from the evangelists and apostles, his 
lofty flights to heaven, imagery taken from Jesus, claim- 
ing divine origin, raising from the dead, and ascending 
to heaven, with power and glory, to judge the living 
and dead, w^th all the gorgeous scenery of heathen 
mythology, to excite the reader's imagination with 
things said and done by Jesus and his evangelists and 
apostles, appears visible in his Revelations, by merely 
transposing events on earth, and in imagination trans- 
mitting them to heaven. John is entitled to little credit 
from the reading world ; as no man that has practiced 
composing or writing, but could, with all the plot and 
materials before him, give a revelationary flourish, equal 
to John. All subjects that tend to enlighten noan's 
understanding in useful knowledge, ought to be lucid ; 
but that wrote or spoke in ambiguous language, bears 
the stamp of duplicity on its face ; a mere flourish to 
seal a book of incomprehensible jargon — contradictory, 
dubious, blasphemous, inconsistent with science or com- 
mon sense, without one particle of testimony, admissible 
as truth, to support a single statement out of the ordi- 
nary course of nature, from beginning to end, in the 
book called the New Testament; or that of the Bible, 
from which the new delusive system was re-modelled, in 
imitation of Moses, after liberating his countrymen from 
bondage, leading them over the world as a conquering 
army of robbers, to exterminate the fairest kingdoms on 



208 

earth, and divide the spoil between his twelve leaders — 
he dying in Moab, and buried there on the opposite side 
of Jordan, in view of his promised land of Canaan ; like 
his antitype who died on Mount Calvary, a very igno- 
minious death, for assuming to be the king of earth, and 
God of heaven. Such is the reward of iniquitous ambi- 
tion : 

" Oh ! what a tangled web we weave, 
When first we practice to deceive.'^ 

Although John, in his Revelations, recapitulates the say- 
ings and doings of Jesus, his divine origin, he being the 
first fruits of the resurrection from the dead, that he 
washed away our sins with his blood, that he ascended 
to heaven, and will come down to judge the quick and 
the dead ; yet he does not believe in the pretended mira- 
cles to be done by the apostles, and states that the great 
swelling word and miracle makers were false prophets, 
working miracles by the power of the devil. This is 
what the Jewish priests told Jesus, when he ^vas sending 
out his apostles to preach his doctrines, with power to 
cast out devils ; thus undermining the whole foundation 
of Christianity and its doctrines, with the doom pro- 
nounced against the disbeliever of the new system, and 
the sure salvation of the believer ; likewise seeing the 
manner of Moses, carrying out the liberation of his coun- 
trymen, and raised them to power and grandeur ; making 
them believe that God had endowed him with the power 
to overcome all obstructions in the way of accomplishing 
his grand object, to make them rulers and owners of the 
fairest kinordoms on earth ; Moses beins: a learned man, 
in political science, knowing the power of religion, false 



209 

or true, on the minds of the people, devised a system for 
external glare and internal chicanery, not equalled by 
any system in duplicity, fraud, rapine, and massacre, 
except Christian popery, which commenced on the de- 
cline of the Mosaic dynasty, by a secret conclave, which 
could not in its general combination, by all the ingenuity 
of man, combined with the subtlety of satan and his 
emissaries, commenced their exciting story by a miracu- 
lous report of the conception of a young virgin by the 
Holy Ghost, who was to bring forth a son who was to 
rule Israel, and sit on King David's throne ; but the pro- 
phecy proved itself a lie ; for the only crown he received 
was a crown of thorns, and he died a felon's death on 
the cross, between two thieves. Such is the meed of 
designing duplicity ; thus showing conclusively to an 
impartial and penetrating reader, that the son of the 
virgin Mary was the son of one of the members of the 
Jewish conclave, the projector and founder of the Chris- 
tian delusion, by which its victims are held in awe, by 
threats of believe, and be saved, disbelieve, and be 
damned, and your name struck out of the book of life 
forever. This is the most blasphemous denunciation that 
ever proceeded from the lips of any but the deep, insidi- 
ous minds of ecclesiastic duplicity. 

All the true knowledge that man can have of God, is 
in the works of his creation, and the law that govei:ns 
all nature — the great universal law of central attraction, 
by which our luminary holds in its powerful embrace all 
the surrounding planets, all proportioned in ma^j;nitude, 
to move in their respective orbits, in silent harmony and 
beauty. This is but a faint outline of the gorgeous 
18^ 



210 

splendor of surrounding worlds — of God's firmament of 
glory and greatness, far surpassing descriptive language 
of mortals ; a theme more fit for beings of a higher 
sphere of intellect, than man. Natural philosophy is a 
sublime study, but the philosophy of mind is a theme 
more fit for angels than man. Mind being the last effort 
of Ahnighty power, the connecting link between matter 
and spirit ; one step higher, we launch into the fathom- 
less sea of infinity ; mind being the mysterious essence 
of Deity, connected with a mortal body so organized, 
that neither can efficiently exist separate from the other. 
The external and internal organs of the body are dis- 
tinct in their functions. The external organs of commu- 
nication to the mind are six — hearing, seeing, smelling, 
tasting, touching, and speaking ; the spiritual senses are 
reason and understanding, which makes man a type of 
God. 

Here is merely a sample of mental philosophy, the 
science of soul, as connected with an organized body, 
the knowledge of which will give a clearer insight to the 
mind of the wisdom, greatness and benevolence of God, 
than all theological colleges ever taught us, or pulpit 
orators ever preached from their sectarian pulpits ; and 
that there is no books or teachers of miraculous fables, 
of clashing doctrines of theology, at this more enlight- 
ened day, to be considered as a standard of human 
rectitude ; but books based on philosophy of science 
and reason, principles whereby God has projected his 
universe of invariable laws, of cause and effect. Here 
we close with an appeal to your indulgence on this ex- 
citing subject, which embraces principles of deep interest 



211 

to the peace and prosperity of man, whether a book 
wrote thousands of years ago, and carried and interpret- 
ed by different commentators, and all varying in their 
interpretation, as interest or motive suggested, under the 
supervision of different governments, in the dark ages of 
superstitious ignorance, feeble fiction and miracle ; the 
principals that heretofore governed the world, like Mo- 
ses, Jesus, and the Pope of Rome, should be a standard 
of faith and human action, at this more enlightened day, 
in science, reason and sound sense, in every branch of 
useful knowledge, to make us more prosperous and hap- 
py, is respectfully submitted to the good sense of the 
intelligent reader, which is the best entitled to credit, as 
a true criterion of faith and practice, the natural revela- 
tion of God in his works of creation, or books wrote by 
fallible men ? God appears to delight in perspicuity, to 
the intelligent mind of man, no prolixity in his revelation 
to bewilder the understanding, he governing his universe 
by a few primary laws, viz. : attraction, repulsion, cause 
and effect, these innate principles being impressed in 
primal nature, as self-operating the countless millions of 
effects ; whereas man has been countless ages devising a 
general system of spiritual laws, in matters of religion, 
which have multiplied to countless systems, without 
gaining their object, occasioned by taking the deceitful 
inventions of knavish men, instead of the true reyela- 
tion of God in his works of creation. 

From all that can be discovered in the Jewish con- 
clave of desig^iers, that in the eve of the first century, 
when the hierarchy had established themselves perma- 
nently in Rome, with the means to hire full educated 



212 

men, such as Cicero, as one of their cardinals, to write 
the sealing book of the Revelation in such a gorgeous 
style, equal to Homer or Milton, in their highest flights 
of imagery — as a sublime echo of Jesus in the clouds, 
his ascension to heaven, with power to seal the book 
with seven seals, until he would come again to judge 
the world ; sealed with the denunciation of his name be- 
ing struck out of the book of life, and records of heaven, 
that would add or diminish aught, by opening the seals 
of this Revelation. 



213 



SLAVERY IN THE UNITED STATES. 

To the political^ moral, and social interests of all par- 
ties, A Plan for the Liberation of Slavery in the 
United States, consistent vjith the harmony and inte- 
rest of the Union ; with a geveral view of Slave and 
Free Labor, as practiced in ancient and modern times, 
respectfully submitted to all feeling hearts and gener- 
ous minds. 

. INTRODUCTORY. 

Hope ! when I mourn with sympathetic mind, 
The wrongs of man, the woes of human kind ; 
Thy blissful omens bid my spirit see, 
The boundless fields of rapture yet to be. 
In Libian groves, where damned deeds are done, 
That bathe the rocks in blood, and veil the sun, 
Truth shall arrest the murderous arm profane. 
And rend the oppressor's chain in twain. 
When barbarous hordes on Cythean mountains roam, 
Truth, Mercy, Freedom, yet shall find a home. 
Where our degraded nature bleeds and pines, 
From Guinea's coast, Siberia's dreary mines; 
Truth shall pervade the unfathom'd darkness there, 
And light the dreadful features of despair. 
Hark ! the stern captive spurns his heavy load, 
And asks the image back, that God bestowed; 
Fierce in his eyes the fire of valor burns. 
And as the slave departs, the man returns ; 
And ye, proud lords' unfeeling hearts shall see, 
That slaves have yet a soul, and Vill be free. 



214 

Slavery in the United States, its bane and antidote ; 
comprising the interest and harmony of all parties, North 
and South, together with a condensed view of Christian 
popery, from base to apex, from the highest catholic 
authority, of oral and written testimony ; the standard 
book of the New Testament, as explained, systematised, 
and practiced upon, by that sect of people ; its deleteri- 
ous effects on moral principles similar to the degrading 
effects of slavery ; one holding the mind in unchange- 
able bondage, nearly nineteen hundred years — the 
other holding the body almost without mind ; both a 
lock on the moral and intellectual improvement of the 
world ; since tyrannic might overcame right, by subju- 
gating the weak to bondage — the latter by deceptive 
fraud, under the guise of religion, to hide the duplicity 
of fraud and falsehood, for sinister motives ; both uncon- 
genial to the peace and prosperity of our otherwise 
happy republic ; a grievance to the hearts of republican 
men, and a violation of the benign and equitable laws of 
God. 

The writer is aw^are that this is a delicate subject to 
treat upon, as it embraces political, moral and social in- 
terests of the world ; these elementary principles consti- 
tute the basis of human happiness — the latter constitut- 
ing the solid virtues and refined duties of a happy life, 
in friendly intercourse with our relatives, friends, and 
fellow man. Therefore, as the practice of these virtues 
constitute the essence of happy life, the omission or vio- 
lation of them is a breach of the harmonious laws of 
benevolent nature, which is the law^ of God. 

Slavery in the early period of the world was more 



215 

general than it is now, when might and conquest made 
law and gospel, what best suited the conquerors ; the 
strong always subjugating the w^eak to bondage, or ex- 
termination — your lile, or your services ; equivalent to 
the midnight robber — your purse or your life. This 
heathen practice education has made a great change in, 
ameliorating the condition of man, wuth a clearer sense 
of right and wrong, with much more respect for the 
rights and privileges of each other, of a similar cast and 
color, but none for the dark African, but bondage for 
life, in our boasted republic of free and equal laws to all 
men, political, social, or religious, who assimilate them- 
selves with us, and come under the laws of our mild 
government ; yet those that stood shoulder to shoulder, 
in resisting British tyranny, turn like the Israelites to 
enslave others, now practicing what they nobly resisted. 
Kings that were formerly the greatest tyrants, now use 
more mercy to benighted Africa than republics, that 
lately came from under their yoke. Even proud Eng- 
land, over whose territories the sun never sets, has 
abolished slavery over her wide realm ; and when a slave 
sets his foot on British ground, his chains fall off, and 
he is free. We read of Abraham of old, on returning 
home with the spoils of a slaughtered city, whom Mel- 
chisedek met, and demanded the tenth of the spoils, 
stating to Abraham, as he had a drove of young mai- 
dens, (fathers, mothers, and brothers slain,) he only 
required this share of the maidens, the common spoil he 
did not want — he being so rich, like Alexander, and 
Joshua, the great robber, who divided the world amongst 
his bandits, self-styled himself High Priest of God, with- 



216 

out beginning or end of time ; like our modern Pope of 
Rome, Vice-gerent of God, with power over heaven and 
earth. This is the way that men in both ancient and 
modern times got to be rich and great ; making the weak 
to bend, and the tyrant to rejoice, like our modern Mel- 
chisedek, the pope, with a name on his forehead, written 
blasphemy against God ; assuming power over earth and 
heaven, and he but a mortal man, stating his high power 
given from a rude, illiterate fisherman, with the keys of 
heaven, to open and shut to w^hom he pleased. This is 
the w^ay the great ones claim power over earth and 
heaven. 

We shamefully belie our boasted constitution of the 
rights and privileges of man, when a few thousands of 
slave masters hold slavery in defiance against the aspi- 
rations of millions of righteous men, who have might 
and right to rule slavery out of our republic, yet our 
peace loving souls sleep in apathy on the slave question, 
when according to the spirit of our national constitution 
the majority shall govern the minority, thus making our 
government an aristocratic instead of a democratic re- 
public, when the amendment to the constitution expressly 
states that Congress shall not put any construction on 
any article therein, not sanctioned by the majority of the 
states and people : 

'* The people's will, the sovereign law, 
Shall yet resound from shore to shore." 

The moral education of the finer feelings of the head 
and heart, is making vast changes in the lettered world ; 
the science of mind, matter and motion, is now illumi- 



217 

nating 4he world to a more just sense of sielf-governrnent ; 
with the rights and privileges of our fellow men, our duty 
to ourselves, our God and our country, and that nothing 
that God created shall much longer be driven through our 
streets, like shackled felons, for no other crime than fleeino- 
from cruel masters, worse than the Mosaic law, which had 
no power to hunt their runaway slaves, and bring them 
back in chains, thus presuming that if they were well 
treated they would not run away, as many voluntarily 
submitted to bondage on condition of mild treatment, 
and had a right to change their masters ; as we read of 
Abraham raising one of his slaves to the dignity of chief 
steward of the household, and sending him out to choose 
a wife for his son Isaac, out of his own kindred and 
people. 

Bondage, mellowed down as we read in ancient days^ 
with more fellow feeling than is now practiced, would 
be less objectionable ; still, slavery, thou art a bitter 
draught, and millions have to drink it to the bottom, 
and naught but the dregs left to their posterity. 

It is a great injustice for the advocates of slavery to 
add insult to degradation by stating that negroes are 
inferior in mental and physical capacities ; this is denied 
by impartial men, as our species are generally born with 
mental and bodily senses equal — climate and cultivation of 
those faculties only make the difference. What was the 
British nation, we chiefly sprung from, prior to their sub- 
jugation by the Romans, who, seeing the fair complexion 
of the lovely daughters of this barbarous people, inter- 
married, socialized and civilized them, so that they have 
become the most enlightened and powerful nation oa 
19 



218 

earth in arts, sciences and arms; they seeing the injus- 
tire of bondage^ have wisely abolished it over their wide 
dominions^ on which the sun never sets, thus showing 
demonstratively in the World's Fair, by threefold im- 
partial premiums, for every improvement that w^ould 
ameliorate and dignify and improve the soul and body 
of mankind over all nations on earth, out-rivaling 
the god-like spirits of ancient Rome, now sunk by 
Christian popery, as deep as hell can steep its votaries 
in degraded misery. Here your especial attention and 
impartial judgment is required, here is one universal 
standard, that all men of impartial and enlightened 
judgment will admit as true ; which is, that any device, 
political, religious, scientific or social, that is not based 
on supervisionary change of improvements, is unwise, 
false and tyrannic ; like Melchisedek's priesthood, the laws 
of the Medes and Persians, the arbitrary doctrine of the 
Jew and Christian religion, will sink into their obscure 
graves, to lie and rot, disdained by heaven and man for- 
got ; the dark reign of superstition and ignorance is 
fading away before the light of reason, science, and ra- 
tional sense, which only teaches man the true knowlege 
of himself, God and his infinite attributes ; enough for 
man to know, that virtuous actions make his bliss below. 
This practice of virtuous actions precludes all vicious 
ones, and brings round the long looked-for millennium, 
when a philanthropic spirit will pervade all hearts and 
tranquillize our desires into amity and fellow-feeling for 
all mankind. 

" That mercy 1 to others show. 
That mercy show to me." 



219 

We shall now close this introductory address, by a few 
more observations on slavery, north and south of the 
Potomac, as practiced in Maryland upwards of fifty 
years ago, when the writer lived in Harford County, 
and found those uneducated masters destitute of all the 
refined feelings of head and heart, vindictive and 
cruel to their slaves; they having no books of moral 
import in their houses, appeared to be practical atheists, 
unaccountable to any law but their own devising. Alas! 
a tale of woe I could unfold, that would make the heart 
of humanity sigh, the sympathetic eye shed tears for the 
cruelty inflicted on unresisting slaves, by their cruel 
masters. Slavery in Maryland brutalizes and debases 
the finer feelings of the heart of man and woman ; the 
writer making up his mind never to marry a slave mas- 
ter's daughter, believing her soul \vould be tainted with 
tyranny even to her husband or offspring. Why do 
men set such pernicious examples to their wives and 
daughters, whose souls were made for the finer feelings 
of nature ; love to God, love to man, and never-dying 
love to her offspring ; creative power's last effort, com- 
bined all the beauties in earth, in her image and form, 
with innate virtues of refined soul and sentiment, to 
please and gain the warmest affections of men, w^hose souls 
are now tainted with the vice ofslavery for ill-gotten gain. 

Here we cease this introductory address, with a few 
more observations on the blighting effects ofslavery and 
popery and commence on the abolishment of slavery 
in a practicable and just way, if the parties can 
agree on the compromise, and let the world know that 
republics have a sense of equity and justice as well as 



220 

monarchies, as not one in ten of the American cilizenS;, 
but what are in favor of eraancipatrng slavery, and but 
for a Gorchan knot of political compromise in framing 
our early confederacy, slavery v>^ould have long ere this 
been abolished. 

We shall now commence on the main point of the 
case, without intending to give offence or interfere be- 
tween master and slave farther than offer an honorable 
compromise, knowing the sovereignty of state rights 
granted and long practiced upon ; therefore, the writer 
being used in examining intricate things, the practica- 
bility and consistency of the busines affairs of men, and 
judgment of the political and moral standard of the present 
day, that denounces tyranny and unconditional slavery, 
a moral and political sin, a relic of the dark ages of the 
world. If the Bible is taken as a standard of faith and 
practice, it might justify unconditional slavery, but the 
more mature age we have arrived at in science, sense 
and sound reason, repudiates many precepts and exam- 
ples there taught and practiced by knaves and tyrants, 
and uncongenial to the present age. Buying and selling 
our fellow-creatures is yet practiced in many parts of 
the world ; mothers sell their lovely daughters to Mo- 
hammedan harems, not as slaves, but as bosom compan- 
ions of man ; Avhich, although not a sin equal to de- 
graded slavery, yet as nature has created the sexes 
nearly equal in numbers, monopoly is a sin against the 
equitable laws of nature, which are the laws of God, 
woman being created for the bosom companion of man, 
not bis sensual slave, a wife and mother, two of the most 
endearing names on earth ; the joyous companion and 



221 

equal sharer of his joys and sorrows ; the choice of his 
youth, the fond companion of his matured manhood and 
the solace of his declining years ; this is the sphere of 
woman, heaven's last best gift to man ; and what was 
lonely man before this boon of beauty given, he a 
stranger and knew not where to stray, the world to him 
was sad and flowery, and Eden wild and man the her- 
mit sighed, till lovely woman smiled. There are many 
nameless delicacies attached to woman not so generally 
practiced as they ought to be ; man, evidently created 
with stronger powers of body and mind, as a guard, 
guide and protection ; this is self-evident throughout 
all animated nature, where the mother nurses and the 
sire defends ; woman knowing from instinct as well as 
reason her sphere of life, being more fit for the delicacies 
and softer virtues of waives and mothers, and therefore 
leans on man for protection, repays him with love, as 
the mother of their mutual offspring, the strongest ties 
that can twine around the heart of man. 

The sympathetic feelings that nature has impressed on 
our souls, should extend in a proportionate degree 
throughout our intercourse with our fellow-beings, if 
Africans are considered such, as the most enlightened 
people consider them to be. 

"No longer bid dark, thankless laborer drudge, 
Nor trennbling take the pittance and the scourge ; 
No homeless Tibean o'er the stormy deep, 
To call upon his country's name and weep." 

Philosophy, science and sound sense are making gene- 
rous changes in ameliorating the world, as moral educa- 
19* 



222 

tion is becoming more general, with more just notions of 
equitable right ; the vast advantage the knowledge of 
science has in managing laborious affairs of life, in the 
application of steam, horse and mule power, as sub- 
stitutes for manual labor, will show that the time is 
not far distant, when manual labor will be required only 
to superintend mechanical operations, as applied to the 
general operation, in the various requirements of life, in 
a more expeditious and economical way, than slave 
labor, as now performed. 

One instance, although numbers could be given. About 
fifty years ago, the writer being induced by a citizen of 
Harford county to leave the city of Baltimore, and 
examine his place, consisting of a plantation of about 
five hundred acres, with grist and saw mills ; being ac- 
qainted with mills, conceived it a grand establishment ; 
but its being managed by slaves, was greatly disappoint- 
ed, as the mill was out of order, although lately rebuilt, 
since a conflagration of the former. In hoisting the mill- 
gate, the mill would not start. The negro could not tell 
what was the matter. On examination, I found the mill 
spindles, being neglected with oil, heated, run fast into 
their steps. Four negroes tended the saw-mill — one to 
tread back the cargo, the others to set the cut. I have 
had mills that would saw and grind more in one day, 
than they could do in one week. 

This is a sample of slave labor in Maryland. The 
master appeared on the retrograde movement ; slaves 
only worked from fear of the lash, and did not earn 
their pittance. We shall now revert from this unplea- 
sant part of the narrative, to something more congenial 



223 

to the mind of the sensitive reader ; stating from a long 
life of observation and historic record that ever a well 
educated man, whose teaching has been based on moral 
principles, embracing the prime qualities of both head 
and heart ; the head for quickening and brightening the 
intellect of understanding and comparative reason, and 
reasoning on the true principle of human rights and 
wrongs, politically and socially, as taken from cause and 
effect ; the operations of nature, which all tend to one 
point, the impartial happiness of its universal creation ; 
from the sun, the beaming eye of Deity, giving vivify- 
ing light, life and happiness to his surrounding worlds, 
free participants of his bounty, from the king on his 
throne, to the humble cottage of smiling babes and 
loving mothers, graded down through animal and vege- 
table life, from the towering trees of the forest to the 
blooming trees of our orchards ; to the less, but more 
lovely flowers of our gardens, to the lowly herbage of 
our fields. The sun, the ever-watchful sentinel of God, 
drawing his curtain in the west over his sleeping fiunily, 
and joyfully awakening with his morning beams, like a 
fond mother, awakening her children to the joyous plea- 
sure of a new day ; thus showing to man a standard of 
his duty in God's immaculate book of nature, which 
lieth not — wrote by the hand of infinity, as a true index 
of human duties, to make himself and others happy. Here 
is the difference between God's revelation, in his book of 
nature, and man's book of bewildering invention, com- 
posed in the early days of superstitious bigotry. 

The attention of the reader is now called more par- 
ticularly to the subject matter of this case, by drawing 



224 

a parallel between British aristocracy and Southern 
slavery. As the people in monarchies are generally 
classed, not according to qualification of mind, but ac- 
cording to circumstances, those below the nobility and 
titled, possessing large incomes, are styled gentry, which 
w^ealth and education are entitled to — as education all 
over the world has been the basis of civilization ; yet 
education without w^ealth, loses even in America, half of 
its influence ; and as southern gentry are generally 
wealthy, having means to purchase unconditional slaves 
to labor for them, they being w^ell educated, may be 
considered American gentry ; and that viewing the sub- 
ject in its proper light, the spirit of slavery all over the 
world is the same, differing only in its operation ; mo- 
narchical and ecclesiastical exactions pressing the poor 
laborious soul down to the last turn of the screw. 
Therefore, the chief difference between slave and free 
labor is, that the free laborer can have a choice of mild- 
er masters, and better wages, if he can get it elsewhere ;* 
the slave has no alternative but the lash or submission, 
both crying wrongs to heaven for redress. God's retri- 
butive justice, though slow, will be sure to come. Hea- 
ven is indulgent, yet justice being its attribute, will 
assuredly come, and work out its own operation, accord- 
ins: to the invariable laws of cause and effect. 

The waiter is aware that there are many superficial 
scholars who cannot comprehend the existence of a God 
by philosophical researches, the jargon of theology be- 
wildering, instead of enlightening the mind ; therefore 
they conclude there is no other God than the operative 
laws of nature, the self-arranged universe of matter and 



225 

iTiotion, sprung from self-existent atoms, progressively 
combined iiito the infinite varieties of bodies, animate 
and inanimate. However, be this as it may, the princi- 
ples of cause and effect are universally admitted as a 
self-evident axiom, which cannot be denied. Therefore, 
leaving the belief of a God out of the question, man can- 
not cast off accountability of his actions, but still finds 
himself bound by the principles of his own ethical sys- 
tem of cause and effect ; and this principle, whether 
proceeding from God or nature, holds him accountable 
for his actions. 

We give a few instances of retributive vengeance on 
nations who oppressed or otherwise injured their fellow 
men. We read of an obstinate nation of Benjamites, 
who refused to redress an insult on their own brethren, 
when exterminating vengeance was inflicted upon them 
by their more righteous brethren ; likewise King Pha- 
raoh's nation, by the bondage of the Israelites ; and 
likewise by these Israelites, for their inhuman massacre 
and plunder of the Canaanites. Vengeance was again 
meted on them by the demolishment of their gaudy tem- 
ple by the Roman government ; likewise, when the 
British nation attempted to subjugate America, they lost 
both subjects and nation ; likewise French St. Domingo, 
a sudden transfer of power, property and persons, of 
masters into the hands of the slaves. 

The wickedness of the ancient world is, at this more 
enliglitened day, attributed to their disbelief in the ac- 
countability of human action to God, in a spiritual state 
ol" future existence. 

A few more observations on Atheism, or the disbelief 



226 

of the accountability to God for human action, in this 
transitory life. It is a standard in moral ethics, that 
many superficial students cannot comprehend a God by 
philosophic research : 

*' A little learning is a dangerous thing. 
Drink deep, or taste not, the perennial spring." 

All man knows, or ever can know, is terrestrial. He 
cannot comprehend celestial things ; the earth for his 
habitation, the seas, lakes and rivers for his inheritance, 
the earth yielding flowers, fruit, meat and bread, and the 
seas, earth and air teeming with living creatures for his 
table, all gratuitous ; this comfort and advantage of 
favorite man is an example to share it with his fellows. 

Although an advocate for the emancipation of slavery, 
yet, if it was in his power, the w^riter has no desire to 
disturb the harmony of the Union by any other way than 
suasive compromise, such as effected by the national 
confederacy, where each State reserved its authority in 
the management of its internal affairs, yet each State 
concentrating its energies in a head government, with a 
fraternal embrace. All in one, and one in all. 

Here closes this introductory address to the impartial 
reader, presuming that plain truth, based on moral and 
political principles, cannot consistently give offence to 
any, and here illustrate a plan for the 2;radual extinc- 
tion of slavery, consistent with the harmony of all par- 
ties. North and South, who desire it, and aid in its 
completion, which is as follows : 

The plan here proposed to accomplish this desired ob- 
ject is — as the master is presumed to possess a large 



227 

share of his wealth in slaves, it would be unjust to de- 
prive him of it, w^ithout an equivalent- This plan pro- 
poses the expenses to be divided into three portions ; 
one borne by the masters would be the supposed time the 
slave lived, after his emancipation, two-thirds of this 
amount to be paid to indemnify the master ; the other 
two portions to be borne by Congress, and the free States 
and free people, to compensate the slave master. Yet 
so long as the influx and domestic increase exceeds 
transport to Liberia, no plan can avail to remedy the 
evil, without stopping foreign influx and domestic in- 
crease, which the following plan is meant to eff'ect. 
Therefore, let all friends of freedom be vigilant in guard- 
ing against the influx of slaves, by enforcing the law of 
piracy, which is against the law of God and righteous 
men, and use every justifiable means to rule it out of 
our virgin republic, or the retributive hand of Omnipo- 
tence will fall on us, for the wrong of enslaving our fel- 
low men. We now close the preliminary address, and 
commence the illustration of this plan for the gradual 
extinction of slavery in the United States, consistent 
with the peace and harmony of all parties. North and 
South, that desire it, as follows : 

First, I propose that after stopping all importing of 
slaves, all such in the Union shall remain slaves during 
life, at their master's option. Second, that Congress 
shall pass an act, that all issue of slave parents shall 
serve an apprenticeship to their masters, say to thirty 
years of age, educated and treated as white apprentices, 
marriage forbidden during servitude, with two years free- 
dom in the State where they were bron to earn their pas- 



228 

sage to Liberia, marry, and move to their foreign homCj 
never to return to the United States, under penalty of 
former servitude, as amalgamation with our white race 
w^ould be a retrograde movement. This plan carried 
out, would extinguish slavery in the United States in 
one century, w^ithout wronging the master, or further 
grieving the opponents of slavery ; thus conferring a 
blessing, and removing a curse from our beloved repub- 
lic. This plan is susceptible of various modifications, in 
its practical results. Taking as a basis one century back, 
w^hen slavery commenced with a ship-load of slaves, 
Avhich by import and domestic means have increased to 
the present amount of three millions, giving- an average 
increase of from twenty-five to thirty thousand per an- 
num ; but by stopping import, and prohibiting marriage 
during indenture, w^ould reduce, instead of increase the 
number. On the expiration of the first period of inden- 
ture, say thirty years, with two years to earn expenses 
to Liberia, as at the commencement of this plan of in- 
denture, increase could only come from slave women, 
one half of which could only increase youth, forty years 
of age being the period of mother's physical ability to 
bear children ; so this plan, view it as you will, is prac- 
ticable. Two generations will reduce slavery to a frac- 
tion ; a century extinguish it. Therefore all who wish 
to aid in removing the dark cloud of slavery from our 
beloved republic, come forward, and offer indemnifica- 
tion for their slaves. The aspirations of the greater part 
of the civilized world is for freedom, mental, moral and 
physical: therefore, to show the practicability of this 
plan, let it be borne in mind, that at the passing of this 



229 

act of indenture, that one half of slave mothers would 
be past child-bearing, for at the age of forty-five women 
cease from bearing. Thus taking in the mortality of our 
race, up to the fulfillment of the first indenture, and the 
two years freedom in this country, say thirty-two years, 
at which period, in all probability, the number of appren- 
tices to be shipped home would not exceed one-eighth 
of the number of slaves — nature aiding in a great degree 
our virtuous efforts. 

There are two species of bondage that hang on the im- 
provement of the world, like an incubus; both holding 
body and mind in control — one by tyrannic might, the 
other by desperate guile, over the free exercise of mind, 
unalterable, like the laws of the Medes and Persians, 
never to improve. Such is Christian popery, without 
improvement or change, •for nearly nineteen hundred 
years, except in strengthening its delusive system by 
ambiguous proxility, based on hypothetical premises. It 
is time for some head and hand, more potent than the 
writer, to free the w^orld from physical and mental bond- 
age, by the powers of reason and philosophy, the true 
standard, written by the hand of Omnipotence. 

'^ Know thou, man, the great first cause, 
Acts not by partial, but by general laws." 

Our glorious constitution, based on reason and the 
rights of man, in imitation of the laws of God, stands as 
a beacon light to the world. Therefore, any combina- 
tions of interest uncongenial to the spirit of our benign 
constitution, is an anomaly in the body politic ; tliere- 
20 



230 

fore reason, and not the sword, is our ruling principle. 
Moral justice and generosity, based on philanthropy, 
will be all-sufficient to adjust the clashing interests of the 
North and South amicably, into one world of peace and 
harmony. 

This may be considered a draft or outline of this sub- 
ject, to further analysis and more minute arrangement, 
if such should be acted upon, closing with a few brief 
observations on slavery, which through time has been 
the grievous cause of desolating wars. Mohammed based 
his new religion on revelations from heaven, each reve- 
lation answering an epoch, in carrying out his system. 
Differing from Moses in receiving his laws, Mohammed 
ascended in the spirit to heaven, and there got his com- 
mission direct from God ; God condescending to come 
down to Moses on the Mounf, and there personally give 
him the law. When Mohammed accomplished one 
revelation, he ascended to heaven for the next, accom- 
plishing each revelation in succession ; thus comprising 
his whole system in seven revelations ; the last revelation 
* he had to ascend to the throne of Deity, and heard the 
awful voice of God pronounce the sealing revelation, in 
imitation of John's Revelation of the New Testament, 
but much more rational in design and execution than 
either of the former ; thus, showing that chicanery was 
used in all human systems of religion, and monarchical 
government, from the bloody sacrifice of Cain and Abel, 
to that deceptive trick of Abraham offering up his son 
Isaac. John's sealing book of the Revelation, with that of 
the enlightened Ishmaelite, who nobly stemmed the deso- 
lating deluge of Christian popery, worse than Noah's 



231 

flood — one sweeping the earth clear of corruption, 
the latter corrupting the earth with her abomination. 
Each party striving for mastery. The slaveholder 
keeping his fellow in bondage ; priests keeping their 
votaries in ignorance ; the kings keeping their serfs in 
continual bondage and misery. This is a true picture of 
the leaders and governments of the world ; with the ex- 
ception of the constituted laws and general government 
of the United States, which, by its arrangements, are as 
nearly perfect as human wisdom can make them, and 
still subject to amendment, when occasion justifies it. 

Our southern brethren must still be considered mem- 
bers of our peaceful Union, so long as they believe in a 
God, and accountability to him, for deeds unjustly done 
to his fellow-man on earth ; but, grievous to relate, 
slavery in the United States is not based on moral or 
conscientious principles, but the theory of home and 
bread ; and that white freemen cannot live in Kansas, as 
they would desire, without the aid of slave labor. This 
is the practical history of Atheism, a disbelief in the ac- 
countability of a spiritual God, for the actions of the 
body on earth ; thus acting on the Bible doctrines — the 
subdued nations must submit to bondage ; the laws of 
might, and not of right, according to Gen. Stringfellow, 
is to govern Kansas. 

'* Alas! degraded man, the expected day 
That breaks your bitter bonds, is far away." 

Here you are es})ecially wished to observe, that the 
criterion to judge of the right or wrong of any system of 
human contrivance, is only by the practical effects of 



232 

good or evil it produces on the community at large ; if 
oi:ily a partial good to a few, at their expense, then it is 
partial in its operation, and unjust in its principal ob- 
ject, and ought to be abolished. 

Final close : There is strong reason to believe that all 
our wicked actions proceed from a disbelief in the eter- 
nity of the soul, and accountability to a spiritual God, 
for deeds done in the body, although man is known to 
be a two-fold being, with a mortal body, subject to the 
laws of man, and believed to possess a spiritual soul, to 
exist eternally in a spiritual world, and accountable to 
the laws of God, as prompter of the evil actions of the 
body ; while conjoined thereto the laws of man, w^hich 
can only extend to the trial of causes clearly brought 
before it; but the case of the midnight assassin, where 
no eye could see, or tongue reveal, but the cognition of 
God, whose infinite wisdom knows the thoughts and 
designs of men ; the body subject to the tribunals of 
earth, the soul subject to that of heaven ; so that man 
cannot in any way conceal his actions from infinity, and 
that the intellectual soul was given to man as an agency, 
to guard and guide him to heaven in the path of virtue; 
and as the intellectual soul is the prompting agent of 
human action, is accountable for all the unrighteousness 
performed by man, being a semi-deity of heaven, sent 
to govern earth, in imitation of the benevolent laws that 
govern nature, and is held accountable for his duty to 
God and his fellow-man, which simply consists in this 
righteous principle, " Do unto others as ye would they 
should do unto you.'^ This is the standard of human 
rectitude, approved by heaven, and sanctioned by right- 



233 

eous men over the greater part of the enlightened world, 
and our boasted republic should assuredly follow the 
benign example of freedom to our fellow man ; and hea- 
ven would accept the expiation, and millions of honest 
hearts rejoice in the freedom of the slave. 

" O, lives there, Heaven, beneath thy dread expanse, 
One hopeless, dark idolater of chance, 
Content to feed, Vi^ith pleasures unrefined, 
The lukew^arnn passions of a sordid nnind; 
Who mouldering earthward, reft of every trust. 
In joyless union wedded to the dust ; 
Whose nnortal life and nnomentary fire, 
Lights to the grave his chance-created form, 
As ocean wrecks illuminate the storm: 
And when the flickering flash of life is o'er, 
To death and silence sinks forever more. 
What is the bigot's torch, the tyrant's chain ? 
I smile in death, if heavenward hope remain. 
But if the warring winds of nature's strife, 
Be all the faithless charter of my life ; 
If chance awakeil, inexorable power, 
This frail and feverish being of an hour, 
Doom'd o'er the world's precarious scene to sweep, 
Swift as the tempest travels o'er the deep, 
Then melt, ye elements, that formed in vain 
His troubled pulse, and visionary brain ; 
Fade, ye wild flowers, memorials of my doom, 
And sink, ye stars, that light me to my tomb. 
Hope ever lovely, since the world began. 
The foe of tyrants, and the friend of man, 
Whose soothing sighs, in balmy slumbers start, 
Reposing virtue, pillowed on the trusting heart." 

20* • 



234 



EXPOSITION OF THE FIVE PRINCIPLES 

On which Popery is based. 

First : Its main pillar, celibacy of their priesthood, 
most seductive of female virtue, from the experience in 
knowing the power of female influence ; in gaining con- 
verts to their new system of religion, they insidiously 
embodied the celibacy of their priesthood as a nucleus 
around which all others were to revolve, as in all new 
systems of religion w^oman w^as chosen as the auxiliary 
to success. 

In Europe, where the Methodists first started, the 
principle of their operations was the conversion of young 
females, by exciting their fears, and generally frightened 
them into a swoon, after which the preacher would 
cheer the convert on the happy result of her conversion, 
which, like the Apostle Paul, sealed her for heaven, as 
one of the elect, and that no casualty in future life could 
effect the seal of redemption. As Paul taught, do what 
you will, you sin not ; and as love to God and man was 
a principal duty, which the young converts practiced, 
socially and spiritually, the good sense of the thought- 
ful people denounced their night meetings, love feasts, 
and Eden suppers. 

Here it is respectfully asked, if the object of popery 
could for any other motive devise this system of celi- 
bacy of their p?iests — it giving a greater degree of sen- 
sual enjoyment to both priest and penitent, than any 
other way ; as young females are required to come to 



235 

confession as early as nine years old, to be sanctified by 
the embrace of a priest, claiming, like the Jews, the 
firstlings of the flock, the field and the womb. Such is 
the claims of their system of blasphemous popery ; they 
having organized their church above all others, a spiri- 
tual and temporal hierarchy over the souls and bodies 
of its votaries, with a suflScient number of priests, to get 
all the increase of their realm, if popish husbands were 
dead ; as all their priests are chosen in strict accordance 
with the Jewish injunctions, perfect in all their mem- 
bers ; capable of giving fecundity to barren women. 
Popery numbers about one hundred and fifty millions, 
with bishops, priests, curates, and lackeys. The lower 
class of curates, having no home, wife or family, to love 
or care for, are the most wretched creatures on earth, 
wandering among their poor, still welcome to the table, 
and a night's lodging, as no w^oman who has ever con- 
fessed to a priest would refuse him any favor, as he who 
has her soul in keeping, she venerates, if not loves the 
best. The writer has heard catholic women say that 
it was no sin to grant a priest a love favor, as he is not 
allowed to have a wife, so that adultery and fornication 
is not considered criminal, by priest or penitent. I have 
seen these wTetched vagrants lying drunk about country 
grogeries, their people pitying them as having no homes 
— so that popery is a grievance to its own party, and a 
curse to the world. Every article in its abominable 
system shows a deep desire to deceive and brutalize the 
world, which it once governed, and yet holds one hun- 
dred and fifty millions in its insidious grasp. Juchis like, 
it hides its face under a veil ; but the writer intends to 



236 

tear it off, and show to the world the hydra-headed 
monster, with the polluted source from which it sprung. 
Second : A substitute for celibacy ; a private confes- 
sional for females, from the earliest age of maturity, 
married and single, where every thought of the female 
breast is elicited, generally in language too indelicate to 
be here repeated, by a lecherous priest, who is bound 
by the most awful oaths to perform every duty for the 
interest and aggrandizement of the Church of Rome ; 
and as all females, prior to their initiation, are to be in- 
formed by their seniors, the object of confession and 
remission of sins, and by confirmation into the Holy 
Church of Rome, she becomes sealed into the select 
church of God. This pleasing language she is taught 
to believe is true, and comes prepared, and as passive as 
the babe in the nurse's arms, and is bound by awful ob- 
ligations, prior to her confession, to conceal, and never 
reveal, the secrets of the confessional. Therefore, ac- 
cording to this deep and damning scheme, there cannot 
be a female penitent who ever enters the confessional, 
but what is sealed irrevocably for life, a convert to the 
abominable doctrines of the Church of Rome ; and the 
fluttering bird might as well try to escape the jaws of 
the charm-snake, as a young female escape from the 
pollution of the confessional. Therefore, it is not aston- 
ishing to think that the world could be so soon convert- 
ed to popery, w^hen we understand the charm by which 
so many females are caught in the confessional, well 
knowing the powerful influence of females, and that 
by getting a wife or daughter of a family, they can bring 
the whole family ; and likewise we see the Pope of 



237 

Rome claiming spiritual and temporal power over the 
souls and bodies of his subjects ; yet hundreds of thou- 
sands of determined spirits suffered martyrdom, rather 
than live under the brutalizing* control of popery, which 
rifled the fond affections oi their wives and daughters, 
from fathers and husbands, to the priest, who claims 
spiritual power over their souls and bodies ; thus leav- 
ing the husband and father secondary in their love and 
affections. This is a degrading but true picture of the 
withering effects of popery ; and as woman, being the 
weaker sex, naturally leans on man for protection, and 
when induced to believe that a priest possesses divine 
power, as taught in the New Testament, to forgive sins, 
raise the dead, and cast out devils, she throws herself 
iiito the power that she is induced to believe will make 
her most happy, still sharing with her plighted husband 
a soulless body. No wonder millions suffered and 
risked martyrdom in the sacred cause of virtue and 
the dignity of wives and daughters. 

All these five heads tend to one point — the aggran- 
dizement of their party into power and prerogative, by 
every means that cupidity could devise, or satan and his 
emissaries could invent — truly has priest Hogan said, 
that popery is the embodiment of all that is evil, and 
destitute of all that is good, and the basis of Christian- 
ity the greatest delusions that ever cursed the world; 
and if mankind had been left to the sole guichuice of the 
observations of the causes and eifects that human actions 
produce, and practiced the good, and evaded the evil, he 
would have been wiser, more prosperous, and happier 
than he is now, or ever will be, until he makes better 



238 

use of his own rational senses, with the attributes of 
God for his guide, which is a surer leading line to happi- 
ness in time and eternity, than all the sectarian systems 
ever devised by hypocritical polemics, blind leaders of 
the blind, wolves in sheep^s clothing, to rule, to ruin, 
and betray. 

Third : Popish seraglios, called nunneries, crimes, 
fornication and infanticide. 

This is another riveting link in the insidious chain, 
requiring all the five heads herein stated combined into 
one, to constitute popery. All deceptive systems, to a 
partial observer, appear to have a goodly outside, under 
the garb of female seminaries, of a religious order, ex- 
cluding the nuns from the pleasures of the outer world, 
by conforming to certain religious exercises, penance, 
prayers, and adoration of the virgin Mary, and numbers 
of imaginary saints in their calendar, continuing the 
nuns in a state of pupilage, by not allowing them to 
make use of their own judgment, or any thing but strict 
obedience to their superior, in all their duties ; thus, 
instead of educating and improving the mind, converting 
it into a polluted sink of crime, and prostitution to their 
sensual priests and libidinous associates, generally mili- 
tary and navy officers of the government, like them- 
selves, leading a life of unmarried profligacy. 

The pernicious influence of these libertines in large 
seaport cities, is a powerful drawback on the moral vir- 
tues of the world, more particularly in monarchical 
governments, where religion requires large standing 
armies and naval forces and fleets lying in their waters ; 
sufficient to corrupt the morals of the city where those 



239 

popish seraglios are generally located, with a sufficient 
number of young nuns to accommodate the officials of 
the priesthood, the army and navy ; thus tainting the 
moral atmosphere around the orbit of their influence, 
demonstrating the pernicious effects on moral virtue, by 
those insidious institutions know^n as popish harems, 
under the guise of religious sanctity, but truly bagnios, 
harems of crime ; teaching crime, instead of science, 
sense, and accomplishments necessary to make honora- 
ble and useful members in the duties of life. 

Our American seminaries are open to the eyes of the 
world, where all the feminine virtues and accomplish- 
ments, for their dignified station as wives and mothers, 
are taught. These are the true principles of a moral 
education, based on the unerring law of cause and eff'ect. 
The tongue of a Cicero, or the pen of a Demosthenes, 
could not depict fully the abominations of popery, the 
type of the great whore of Babylon, who made the earth 
drunk with the blood of martyred men, women and in- 
fants, and continues to pollute the earth with fornica- 
tion, adultery and sin ; and now raising their prison- 
houses of infamy in sight of our protestant capitol, 
although well known that every tenet in their abominable 
creed is in direct opposition to our republican code of 
government, moral and social institutions of arts and 
improvements, a perfect lock on the expansion of the 
human intellect. Therefore, if all the ingenuity of man 
was called on to devise a mode of keeping the world 
stationary, they could not excel popery, and the source 
from whence it sprung. 



240 

Fourth : Mental reservation ; evasion of perjury ; 
and concealment of crime. 

This, like the three previous heads explained, is the 
fourth link in the chain of popery — the former being the 
operative principles by which it works, and mental re- 
servation is the principle whereby the catholic is taught 
to evade giving true testimony in cases where the inte- 
rest or credit of religion, or church, or priesthood are 
concerned, and is one of the deepest and most damning 
articles in their creed. By virtue of this article, an 
ignorant catholic may see perpetrated the deadliest 
crimes, and evade giving true testimony, if it in anyway 
should affect the interest or credit of the Church of 
Rome ; they being nurtured in the faith to believe that 
their priests have the power to forgive sins, and that 
they can do no w^rong. 

As a truth of the pernicious effects of mental reserva- 
tion I shall here give sufficient testimony. Not long 
ago, in the capitol city of Spain, Roman priests assem- 
bled in numbers like the locusts of Egypt, and their 
sensualities being so general with females, the protest- 
ant and reflecting citizens sent a remonstrance to the 
pope, praying for an investigation of the truth of their 
grievances, and he not believing it so bad, ordered a 
committee of equal numbers of the intelligent and en- 
lightened men, catholic and protestant, in their city 
under oath, to give a true statement to the world of the 
case, according to evidence, but as truth could not be 
obtained without the female witnesses beinp; absolved 
from their obligations of secrecy in the confessional, they 
were absolved by the pope, and required to tell the truth 



241 

without reservation. On this procedure the committee 
.sat six months, heard the true testimony of thousands 
of females from the age often and upwards, married and 
single, all agreeing in the most abandoned profligacy of 
the Roman priests, and sufficient testimony was elicited 
by the committee that all females that entered a confes* 
sional, or in any way associated with a Roman priest, 
were seduced by them, and that the committee closed 
their investigation with the belief that the whole female 
Catholic community, under the influence of the Roman 
priests in that city, were defiled by them ; like the painted 
harlot, fair to look upon, but dark and corrupt within^ 
until the reformation, when Protestanism cast off its 
grossest excrescence, yet retaining all its original im- 
purity in the worship of a trinity, instead of one indivi- 
sible God, whom all philosophers, men of sense and un- 
biassed reason w^ith all Unitarians, New" School Quakers, 
Jews, Mohammedans and many American Presbyterians, 
w^ho have impartially examined the source from which 
Christianity sprung, its total want of support, and its 
opposition to philosophy and sound sense and reason, 
and now seeing their delusive error, only worship one 
immaculate and eternal God. 

Reflecting minds are now beginning to doubt the truth 
of the Christian religion, which Protestants denied the 
grossest of it in Christian popery, and \vhich popery 
maintains is the true Christian doctrine as taught by the 
four evangelists, apostles and their founder, Jesus. 

Fifth: Forgiveness of sins, blasphemy against God, 
and the laws of man. 

This is the last insidious link in the chain of popery, 
21 



242 

the whole system containing upwards of thirty minor 
articles, harder to solve than the most intricate problem 
Protestant Christians being ashamed to confess their 
sins, hire a priest to confess and pray forgiveness weekly ; 
and wealthy citizens hire a chaplain at home to pray 
forgiveness for the sins of their family ; and in their mili- 
tary wars, hire chaplains to pray for the success of their 
slaiig-htering army. This is a sample of the various ways 
that the ingenuity of mortals take to get clear of their 
sins. 

Lovely woman, begotten and controlled by man, who 
stands accountable for all her errors, as he is her law- 
maker and law breaker, the cause of her errors, her joys 
and sorrows, her guardian and protector, but too oftea 
made his sensual 'slave by dishonorable means. 

All human inventions for forgiving sins in their nature 
are false and futile, cemented by blood and crime of the 
deepest dye. 

Thus, having explained the five principles on which 
popery is based, and passed true judgment from the 
clearest testimony, we state that all the ingenuity of 
man and satan could not invent a system more atrocious 
in its various ramifications than Christian popery, and 
that if slavery and popery were banished from the earth 
then would peace, plenty and happiness bless the world. 

To give a full detail of every subject would extend 
this work beyond its intended size, therefore from the 
numberless proofs, only a few prominent ones will be 
given ; all can be fully obtained in Maria Monk's charges 
against Romish nunneries and confessionals, expounded 
and supported by a committee of the Protestant associa- 



-243 

tion of New York, in the case of Maria Monk's awful 
exposure of the brutal and immoral practices of nun- 
neries, supported by the corroborative testimony of 
priest Hogan of Philadelphia. The testimony of Martin 
Luther and John Calvin, cardinals of the Roman church, 
denies that the pope possesses any other power than 
that obtained by deceptive fraud, which roused the 
reflective powers of intelligent men, who denounced 
popery and all its abominations. Here begins the testi- 
mony : 

Algona's Compend of Romish Theology. It is, by 
the command of God, lawful to murder the innocent, 
commit lewdness, and thus to fulfill his mandates, is our 
duty. 

Second. A priest has a right to kill the husband of a 
woman with whom he is found committing adultery; 
this being considered an act of self-preservation, to con- 
ceal his crime, which extends to al{ contingencies and 
cases in popery. 

Third. That a priest is never to be put to death for 
anything he may do; he, like the apostles, being sanc- 
tified by the Holy Ghost, cannot sin, and that every 
woman he embraces is sanctified by his love. 

Fourth. If it is an act of self-interest, where either 
your religion or credit is involved, you can swear falsely 
and defame your opponent, and be justifiable by the laws 
of self-preservation. 

Fifth. Woman, to conceal her shame, may comuiit 
infanticide, abortion or use any other means in her power 
to preserve credit, and be justifiable by the laws of self- 
preservation. 



244 

Sixth. Yon are to hold no faith with a heretic ; cheat 
or outwit him, and be justifiable by the aforesaid law. 

Seventh. Pope Paul the third generally had four 
thousand courtesans at Rome, from all parts of Chris- 
tendom, with a seraglio of nuns for their accommoda- 
tion, by which a vast revenue accrued to his holiness in 
the form of indulgences^ absolution, soul masses, beads, 
holy water, crucifixes, images of saints, w^ith all other 
articles of popish manufacture ; with regular graded 
priests, to suit fancy or circumstances, from the king to 
the lackey. 

This is Christian popery, where, in the confessional, 
the libidinous priest holds in one hand to his female 
penitents the torch of sensual desire, and absolution in 
the other ; sin and absolution being the grand modus 
operandi of Christian popery, and if this charm (the con- 
fessional) w^as like the inquisition in Spain, the Bastile 
and nunneries in France, blown up with Napoleon's, 
thunder, and sunk to rise no more, 

'^ Then would the reign of mind on earth begin, 
Asid aH oiijr gesieroiis feelings glow within.'^ 

We state for further information to the curious reader, 
the following authors on popish moral theology, whose 
names are here given : 

Sanchez, Henriquez, Guimenus, Marian, Gubatus, Ee- 
sentbaum, Alygoney, Hurtadow, De Castillo, Escober, 
Tamburine, Fagelli, Trachella, Foginini of Rome, Wan- 
dering Jew and W. Hogan of Philadelphia ; all these 
authors describe the impurity and unlimited sensuality 
of the church of Rome* 



245 

Here we close without fear of contradiction, that all 
systems, political, religious or social, that are not based 
on supervisionary amendment are false, tyrannic and un- 
just ; as no human system or plan was ever devised, or 
struck perfect at the first impression, without a thorough 
revision to perfect it; therefore, as the aspect of things 
is continually changino;, progressive improvement being 
the only true process to perfection ; all our systems and 
plans, that are intended to produce happy results, should 
be susceptible of amendment. 

The republic of the United States is the only govern- 
ment on earth where the wisdom and will of the united 
people is the governing law of the nation, embracing 
upwards of thirty sovereign legislative states merged in 
a central congress, thus mutually giving and receiving 
wisdom, strength and dignity to their central luminary, 
a scientific emblem of God's solar system : one world, 
one virtuous system of religion, one indivisible God, with 
one heaven for the righteous souls of mankind. 



21* 



246 



ON THE ORIGIN OF WORSHIP, 

Prior to its Adulteration by Speculative Theorists, 

This is a kindred subject to the former, and will have 
to be commenced at the earliest period of the creation 
of man, when God created him, in all the faculties of his 
body, in full maturity of manhood, yet lying, as an in- 
animate corpse, under the hands of his Creator, until 
God breathed into him the breath of life, and he became 
a living soul, enthroned in his mortal body, never more 
to die, but on dissolution of the body, 

*' Back to its heavenly source the spirit goes, 
Swift as the comet wheels to whence it rose, 
Doonried like it awhile to burn. 
And then to travel and return.'^ 

This is the most rational construction that can be put 
on the soul's departure from the body. Transmigration, 
and its offspring, resurrection, both more speculative 
than rational — Pythagorean transmigration being, like all 
fanciful notions, transitory, died away on the new sys- 
tem of Christian theology, which consigns the soul, after 
leaving the body, to a doubtful doom, until the general 
resurrection, when the souls are sent back to the earth, 
to reanimate their former bodies, and to come to judg- 
ment, and receive their final doom ; but theology does 
not inform us how the souls exist during the interval 
from the body, or why the trial of so many souls should 



247 

be held in suspense, until a dissolution of all nature 
comes to pass ; or why such an indirect process should 
be adopted, when all other systems of Infinite Wisdom 
wnthin the reach of human knowledge, appear infinitely 
perfect, and that modern theology is much more incon- 
sistent, and even more ridiculous, than heathen m}tho- 
logy, from w^hence it sprung, and beneath the notice of 
any intelligent mind to credit. 

In drawing a parallel betw^een transmigration, con- 
cerning the abode of the soul, between death and the 
resurrection, as Christianity teaches, it must, like the 
body, lose the consciousness of its own identity ; the 
former notion being more consistent, maintains that the 
spirit of God only exists in, and through all created 
existence, and that it cannot exist out of its own crea- 
tion ; and that the soul, after losing one abode, passes 
into the next germ of life it can find, and therefore loses 
no time in the happiness of its existence ; and that 
modern theology is much more complex and obscure, 
with system piled on system, to the skies. 

This is but a faint outline of the dark, inconsistent 
stumbling block of a bewildered world, by misty meta- 
physics, a system of mercantile speculation, duplicity and 
delusion; its systems and doctrines all in direct opposi- 
tion to philosophic and scientific truths of nature, which 
are the truths of an infinitely wise God ; and that any 
system or doctrine whatever, that is not based on 
scientific princi})les, is false and delusive, and ought not 
to be credited. 

**G(), child of heaven, thy wingeil words proclaim, 
'Ti8 thine to search the boundless fields ol' fume ; 



248 

Lo ! Newton, priest of nature, shines afar. 
Scans the wide world, and numbers every star ; 
Wilt thou with him mysterious rites apply, 
And watch the shrine with wonder-beaming eye ? 
Yes; thou shalt mark, with science art profound, 
The speed of light, the circling march of sound. 
With Franklin, grasp the lightning's fiery wings, 
And brighten man with light of scientific things.^' 

Having here given a brief outline of the creation of 
man, according to the accounts of the oldest historians, 
prior to the Mosaic history, which is a much more con- 
sistent and rational account than the latter, it merely- 
stating that at the beginning God created the world and 
man, the greatest effort of his Almighty power, com- 
bining in him a mortal body and a spiritual soul, believed 
to be the intellectual image of his Maker, the never- 
dying spark of the eternal. Thus Adam was a being 
unborn ; according to the dictates of reason, he must 
have been created in the full maturity of intellectual 
manhood, so that all things he saw, he understood their 
nature, and the relation that one thing bore to another, 
as well as the position he stood in, as lord of this lower 
world, on opening his eyes, and springing into life, with 
all the gorgeous scenery of the glowing heavens, and 
the beauties of Paradise, with its lovely inhabitants of 
earth, air and water, fruits and flowers ; when 

"On all by turns, his chartered glance was cast. 
Whilst each pleased best, as each appeared the last; 
But when she came in Nature's blameless pride. 
Bone of his bone, his heaven-anointed bride. 
All meaner objects faded from his sight. 
And sense turned giddy with the new delight. 



249 

Those charmed his eye, but this entranced his soul, 
Another self, Queen, wonder of the whole; 
'Rapped at the vievv, in ecstasy he stood, 
And, like his Maker, saw that all was good." 

This last effort of God crowned Adam's happiness 
with a companion of heavenly origin, like himself, with 
dignified mien and virgin beauty of his adored Eve, in a 
paradise of heavenly bliss. Here, from the source of 
Adam's happiness, sprung unadulterated worship, con- 
sisting of gratitude, adoration, praise and thanks ; the 
worship of a grateful soul, for a divine favor received ; 
adoration for the gorgeous world of splendor and beauty, 
with praise and thanksgiving for his happy existence. 
This was original worship, gushing spontaneous from the 
glowing happy soul of Adam> and his lieaven-anointed 
bride, under the canopy of nature's foliage, knelt and 
worshiped the heavenly pair; here the bowers of Eden 
were the first shrines of worship, and winged songsters 
their choristers. Here our first parents knelt, and offer- 
ed up their morning and evening orisons, unadulterated 
by art or dissimulation ; unlike modern systems, teach- 
ing unmeaning prayers to an infinitely wise God. 

God being infinite in judgment, as well as mercy, 
wmII only judge of the motive of the action, as good or 
evil intended, but not by the effects the action produces. 
This is human judgment, given by the dictates of intel- 
lectual reason, which is given by God to man, as the 
only standard of true judgment and actions of life. Thus^^ 
he who fully understands the crowning fiiculty of reason, 
and governs his actions thereby, may be considered a 
righteous man, a good citizen, husband, father and 



250 

friend ; this will be his salvation, although he never 
knew a sectarian creed, as all human creeds that are not 
based on moral principles, and consistent with the dictates 
of intellectual reason, are false and delusive, and ought to 
be spurned by every citizen in our pure republic, who are 
not yet bitted sufficiently to be ridden by king or priest- 
craft, or saddled by delusive ecclesiastics, either Peter, 
Paul, or John. If the intellectual minds of our revolution- 
ary sires had not been enlightened by the heaven-bestowed 
powers of reason, and the right of self-judgment, as well 
in political as religious knowledge, to govern themselves, 
as well as to teach the teachers of the old world, their 
priest-ridden slaves, that the Americans have independ- 
ent souls, and dared be free. 

'^ There the noble sires, that baffled 

Crowned and mitred tyranny, 
Defied the field and scaffold, 

For their birthright ; so will we : 
Yet remember freemen gathers 

Hence but fruitless wreaths of fame, 
If the patriotism of our fathers ♦ 

Glow not in our hearts the same." 

Those who will reflect on the numberless variety of 
fanciful systems of religious worship over the bew^ildered 
world, and examine generally their baseless systems, 
cause and effect produced by their practices, would rea- 
sonably think that religion all consisted in fanciful creeds 
and modes of worship, as no general standard or criterion 
is yet to suit the tastes of all, but changes as the fancy 
or ideas suggest ; hence the changing world of creed 
and systems, since the days of Cain and Abel. And now 
a crusade of Christian war, threatened against the 



^mtm 



251 

Turks, by the powerful nation of Russia. The numer 
ous wars against the Turkish Mohammedans, by Chris- 
tian kingdoms, is estimated at tw^o million lives on 
each side, and hundreds of millions of treasure, with 
desolation and lamentable suffering by both parties, 
caused always by the Christians to conquer the Moham- 
medans. Each war was occasioned by sectarian doc- 
trines of religion — Mohammed worshiping, like the Jews, 
one God, the Christians w^orshiping three Gods in one 
Godhead. 

Such are the desolating w^ars occasioned by sectarian 
doctrines and different forms of worship ; the peaceable 
religionists worshiping God in silent adoration, without 
any other creed than that of practical righteousness, 
(called Quakers,) which, if the religionists w^ere like 
them, w^ars would cease, and the w'ished for millennium 
w^ould reign, wdth peace on earth, and good will to 
man. 

This self-meditation and exercise appears to studious 
minds the most rational w^orship of a spiritual God, as 
each member of their community participates in their 
general mode of silent adoration, next to the original 
worship of Adam; but his soul, from excess of happi- 
ness, gushed forth in rapturous thanksgiving and praise, 
for the happy boon of a joyful life. These are the only 
two modes of worship that reason pronounces rational. 

Quakerism being the most liberal in sentiments, to 
male and female members of their society, as each knows 
their own thoughts and actions best, to correct their 
errors, or strengthen their minds to perform their duties 
in this life, preparatory to the purer joys of eternity — 



252 

they having no standard creed of faith or practice, other 
than their self-judgment, guided by the dictates of rea- 
son and rational sense. This general mode of exercising 
their mental faculties, in all things relating to their pros- 
perity and happiness, m^kes them the most cautious and 
intelligent community of people that composes our jar- 
ring world ; and if the Quaker community of people 
would educate their offspring, as their economical mode 
of religion and living, in all the comforts, but 'not 
luxuries of vain life, enables them to do — educate them 
in the soul-dignifying classics, and refined sentiments of 
virtue and honor, the embodiment of all the virtuous 
duties of life, they would stand as a beacon light to all 
other vain and thoughtless mortals. 

Having here explained original worship, and its anti- 
type, Quakerism — both more natural than artificial, we 
shall now briefly explain their opposites, commencing 
with the heathen and Jewish ceremonials. The only 
essential difference between pagan idolatry and the Jew- 
ish system of worship, was enabling Moses to carry out 
a plan to liberate his countrymen from Egyptian bond- 
age, by impressing on the minds of his countrymen the 
belief in a spiritual power, sufficient, under his guidance, 
to accomplish the desired object. This plan Moses car- 
ried out, or caused to be carried out, with all the con- 
summate skill of a profound general, statesman and 
scholar, bringing to his aid all the chicanery of delusive 
trickery, under the guise of his new religion, such as 
necromancy, legerdemain, rapacity, with all the decep- 
tive tricks, or such as he could invent, or the cruelty 
and wickedness that man's evil passions could inflict ; he, 



253 

like the destroying angel of death, traveled forty years 
over the earth, with a victorious army of six hundred 
thousand men, and depopulated the fairest and richest 
kingdoms of the earth, and divided them amongst his 
twelve generals and tribes of Israel, according to a de- 
signed traditionary report, that the Lord would give 
them the fairest kingdoms of the earrfi for their inherit- 
ance. He that wishes to be convinced of the truth of 
this 'delusion, let him critically examine and read the 
Pentateuch and Joshua, until the final accomplishment 
of the Jewish dynasty, which dynasty, from the exter- 
minating spirit of the Jewish Israelites, which turned 
the w^orld against them, as their hand was on every 
man's neck, not of their religious mode of worship ; so 
every nation they conquered and plundered leagued 
against them, to recover their lost spoils, with a retalia- 
tion of vengeance for their exterminating war on the 
most splendid nations of the world, and meted out to 
them what they practiced on others, and chiefly exter- 
minated them from the earth, and now only a wandering 
remnant of vagrants over the earth, without national 
home or government. Such is the retributive punish- 
ment of wricked doers. Here is a sample of noisy wor- 
shipers, w^ho think the louder the noise, and the greater 
the excitement can be effected, the more acceptable the 
worship will be to God and their kino^. This is a sam- 
ple of Jewish temple worship, on its dedication, when 
numbers of young men, with cymbals, psalters and harps, 
all arrayed in white linen, with a hundred and twenty 
priests sanctified, each with trumpets and cymbals, and 
instruments of music, all raising their voices and instru- 
22 



254 

ments to the highest pitch, as one sound, glorifying the 
Lord and the king ; and they sacrificed to the Lord oxen 
and sheep unnumbered, for fourteen days, with propor- 
tionate libations of wine for drink and offering; thus 
worshiping the living God in a high state of inebriation, 
with bachanal instruments of the loudest tone. Thus all 
the difference in the externals of Jewish and heathen 
worship is, that one worships a living Spirit, and the 
other a dumb idol. 

The Quakers disapprove of all modes of w'orship that 
excite the mind above its equilibrium, on the object of 
silent meditation or mild instruction of the young audi- 
ence ; this equilibrium of the composed mind in spiritual 
worship, has an allusion to the dissolution of nature, 
when all things are to resolve into the original state of 
silence, except the spiritual soul. 

It would extend this work beyond its intended limits, 
to give a full illustration of the unnumbered varieties of 
worship, from Cain and Abel's external mode of sacri- 
fice, up to the present day, but shall give a few more 
illustrations to close this interesting subject ; stating that 
all modern modes of worship, except purely spiritual 
worship of the mind, such as impressed on the soul by 
the silent contemplation of the works of infinity and the 
works of creation. The next glaring and sounding mode 
of worship is that of Christian popery, the antitype of 
Jewish and heathen idolatry. 

The following description of Jewish and heathen idola- 
try was acted in Baltimore, recently, in their pagan 
cathedral, fifty years in building ; estimated cost, when 
fully finished, one million dollars, wrung from the hard 



255 

earnings of their deluded votaries. This grand pageantry 
consisted of all the Roman bishops in the United States, 
with their priests and foreign embassies, bearing their 
crucifix and other symbols, marching in procession, 
chanting hymns. On entering the church, the organ 
pealed its loudest notes in concert, and the curtains from 
over the marble statues of Jesus and Simon Peter fell to 
the ground, Peter arrayed in superb vestments, with the 
keys of heaven hanging by his side. 

This is a true, but humiliating picture of Christian 
doctrines. Matthew, chap. x. : And Jesus said to his 
disciples, on sending them out to preach his doctrines, 
that he was only sent to save his nation, the Jews, and 
not the Gentiles or other nations, but that he w^ould aive 
Peter the keys of heaven, to admit or shut out whom he 
pleased. Thus giving Peter power over heaven and earth. 
The following may be considered God's design in 
creating the sexes, man and wife, to populate the earth 
with candidates for heaven : 

MARRIAGE, BY A SUBLIME POET, ROBBINS. 

"In early time, ere GocPs developed plan, 
Lit up young Eden, or created nnan ; 
Or joys were needed our hours to beguile, 
Or earth-lit beauties danced in vvonnan's smile; 
God's fiat came, and changed chaotic night, 
Earth's suns and systems rose upon the sight; 
Joys in profusion leaped upon the earth, 
And our first parents started into birth. 
Then angels chaunted, burning seraphs sung, 
No longer twain, but in God's name are one ; 
This loved enclosure, this divine parterre, 
With blessings terraced, vwvr pure and fair, 
By heaven aj^proved, (lod's ever sp(»cial care. 



256 

Thrice happy spirits ; bliss-inspiring thought, 
Two hearts, two souls, thus into one are wrought; 
Oh ! blessed home, where love and faith reside. 
Where dwells the wife, the heaven-anointed bride ; 
Sent forth by love, and by appointment given, 
F^arth's noblest pledge, a miniature of heaven.^' 



257 



A CONDENSED VIEW OF 

NATURAL PHILOSOPHY: 

Embracing a brief Exposition of the Soul, as connected 
with a living body ; their causes and effects ; matter 
acting on matter, and its results ; mind acting on 
matter, and its results. 

This being more plain to the reader than metaphysi- 
cal illustrations of the nature of beings ; spiritual beings, 
such as God, angels, good and evil spirits, unconnected 
with matter, which is beyond the senses of man to con- 
ceive, as all his knowledge is obtained through the me- 
dium of his corporeal senses, which can only see and 
know the nature of external objects reflected to the mind 
through the medium of bodily sense — the mind having 
the power of analyzation and reflection, to understand 
objects of the visible creation. 

Thus far mental science is understood as clearly as the 
geometric engineer the organization of his complex en- 
gine, and the elements that gives it apparent life and 
motion. Yet theology attaches ambiguous appendages, 
to make the clearest science mysterious and incomprehen- 
sive, which degrades the world of ecclesiastical and 
monarchical serfs. One of these api)cn(lages the doctors 
of divinity have attached to the human body — it is called 
the soul, which is one of the mosl speculative articles in 
22^ 



258 

their theological creed ; yet, although they know nothing 
about the soul, they teach that the soul exists throughout 
eternity, transformed into a new body, and accountable 
to God for the deeds done in the body, and the body ac- 
countable to the laws of man ; thus subjecting man to a 
two-fold tribunal. 

Pope, in his philosophical Essay on Man, truly says : 

" Know then thyself, presunne not God to scan ; 
The proper study of mankind is man." 

There is no branch in the whole circle of science, of 
equal magnitude, to inform the mind of the infinite wis- 
dom and majesty of God, equal to the science of mind, in 
connection with body ; man being constructed a world in 
miniature, embracing every element of our grand system 
of geometric ingenuity, every proportion of symmetry, 
beauty, and architecture, a perfect time-piece in pulsa- 
tion, a locomotive with a breathing engine, a living ency- 
clopsedia of science, and a type of God. 

*' The chain of being is complete in me, 
In man is matter's last gradation lost, 
And the next step is spirit — Deity. 
He can command the lightning, and is dust; 
A monarch and a chief; a worm, a god. 
Whence came he here ; an^ how so marvelously 
Constructed and conceived ; unknown. This spirit 
Surely lives throughout some higher energy, 
For, of itself alone it could not be." 

Here is a brief introduction of mental, into the ele- 
ments of natural science, the first, the most dignifying to 
the soul, the second, most essential to a clearer know- 
ledge of all the duties of life, besides strengthening the 



259 

judgment in everything that relates to prosperity and 
happiness. Here, in our glorious republic of free rights 
and privileges to all citizens, without any other excep- 
tions than just preference to merit and qualifications, for 
honorable trust and office, a boon denied to millions of 
subjects of the old monarchical governments, where none 
but the dignitaries of the church and crown occupy the 
honors and emoluments of office ; here the encourage- 
ment is tenfold greater ; therefore, every American 
should be a well-educated man to serve his country well 
by word or pen or pointed steel — like Rome, in her 
palmy days of glory and greatness — who honored the 
name of a Roman citizen in preference to that of a king. 
Behold ! a greater than Rome is here, surrounded by a 
band of thirty sovereign states united in one, verifying 
the axiom that union is strength. 

Here we close this brief introductory address, and 
commence an exposition of the elements of Natural Phi- 
losophy. 

On the existence of existing things. 
In commencing the explanation of a subject we should 
commence at the beginning, and if w^e cannot find a be- 
ginning or ending, centre or circumference, we must as- 
sume a position to commence with, which is, if there had 
ever been a period in eternity, when nothing did exist, 
nothing could ever have existed, as there was no cause 
to produce existence, therefore we must believe that 
something did always exist which our reasoning senses 
compel us to believe, that the following things did 
always exist uncreated, such as eternity, space, motion 



260 

and the elementary principles of being and creative 
power ; these four uncreated principles we call God, yet 
our reasonino; powers require us to investigate as far as 
investigation can go in behalf of truth, giving nothing 
reliable on hypothesis; truth being the object sought for, 
independent of the dogmas of throne or pulpit ; therefore 
having stated four uncreated principles, may naturally 
inquire why all things now existing might as likely be 
the product of uncreated existence, as the secondary 
effort of a creative power ; certain that all know^n things 
that now exist might have always existed, as well as 
one eternal uncreated existence subsequently created all 
secondary existence, thus leaving the balance of judg- 
ment, between created and uncreated existence on a per- 
fect equilibrium. 

Theology presumes to teach the doctrine of being, and 
the general affections of beings, yet they might preach 
till doomsday, and not explain this unexplicable enigma. 
We shall now commence a brief explanation of the ele- 
mentary principles of the laws that govern matter and 
motion, not presuming to know w^hether matter and mo- 
tion is created or uncreated, it is only the operation of 
the visible laws that govern them, that we do know and 
briefly explain, knowing that exclusive of the full science, 
which is too complex for the common reader to under- 
stand, yet the knowledge of its elementary principles 
will in all the various duties and operations of life, be a 
vast advantage in designing and executing things to ad- 
vantage, as well as dignifying the man ; therefore, since 
matter and motion is the great operandi of the material 
w^oild, we now commence a general description of it. 



261 

Matter embraces all bodies, and when in a state of 
rest requires as much power to give it motion as to 
reduce it to a state of rest. A body at rest would re- 
main so eternally, except some acting cause would put 
it into motion, and would continually keep it in motion, 
unless some obstruction would stop it. Bodies in motion 
would always keep in a straight line, unless turned out 
of their course by some cause. Swiftness of motion is 
measured by distance of place, and length of time wherein 
it is performed. The quantity of motior^is measured by 
its swiftness, and the quantity of matter moved, taken 
together. Instance: Let a boat with its loading be one 
ton weight, tied to a boat at some distance, say four 
tons; stand on either boat, and draw them together by 
the rope; the lighter boat will move to the heavier four 
times as fast as the heavy one will approach to the light- 
er ; yet the quantity of matter moved, according to dis- 
tance, will be the same ; and so in proportion in the 
motion of larger or smaller bodies, from the mighty sun, 
the centre of motion, and axle of the world. 

It is a settled law in nature, that all bodies have a 
tendency of attraction or gravitation towards each other, 
therefore the quantity of matter in the earth, being 
tw^enty-six times greater than that of the moon, the 
earth by common attraction would draw the moon 
twenty-six miles toward it, for every mile the earth 
moved towards the moon; therefore the larger bodies, 
possessing the power of attraction, and the smaller that 
of gravitation, in the motion of bodies of diderent mag- 
nitudes, which is to prevent all bodies being drawn into 
the sun, the circular laws of motion being governed by 



262 

centrifugal and centripetal power — the former to recede 
from the primary centre, the larger the tendency to 
attract to the centre. This bond of union, by circular 
motion, keeps the primary and secondary satellites in 
their respective places. 

Two bodies at a distance from each other, without 
circular motion, would draw towards each other in a 
straight line, and on that principle, all the bodies in the 
solar system would move by straight lines into the sun. 
Such is the wonderful wnsdom of creative power, in 
giving innate laws to the self-government of universal 
nature, beyond the reach of any created power to verge. 

If three or more different bodies w^ere placed at differ- 
ent distances apart, they would by their innate law^ of 
attraction merge into one centre, and in curvilinear lines, 
and not in straight lines, except the last body arrived, 
having no side impulse to move it from a straight line. 
Such are the astonishing laws of motion and matter, too 
stupendous for mortals to conceive. 

In the heavens w^e observe several distinct bodies, 
apart from each other, having motion — such as the sun, 
the fixed stars, the comets, and the planets, w^ith the 
earth we inhabit, visible to the naked eye ; besides tele- 
scopes have discovered several fixed stars, and several 
bodies moving about, some of the planets being invisible 
prior to the use of the telescope. 

The vast distances between these great bodies are 
called intermediate spaces, or vacuums, in which they 
move, unobstructed, floating in limpid ether. 

These bodies are either luminous or opaque ; some 
give light of themselves, such as the sun and the fixed 



263 

stars; some are dark, but reflect light from the others, 
when cast on them. Such are the phmets. 

The comets are opaque bodies, receivinjr their light 
from the sun, appearing more splendid as they approach 
to it. We call the fixed stars those which keep the 
same distance from each other. 

The sun, at the same distance from us, w^ould appear 
like a fixed star; distance lessening apparent magni- 
tude. 

The solar system consists of the sun, and the planets, 
and comets moving about it. 

The planets are bodies which appear to us like stars, 
having no light in themselves, but shine by reflecting the 
light of the sun. 

The planets are called wandering stars, in not always 
keeping the same distance from one another, nor with 
the fixed stars, as the fixed stars do. 

There are seven primary planets in our solar system, 
revolving round the sun at diff*erent distances, in the 
following order: 1st, Mercury; 2d, Venus; 3(1, the 
Earth ; 4th, Mars; 5th, Jupiter ; 6th, Saturn; and 7th, 
Herschel. 

Mercury is the smallest planet, so near the sun that 
it is seldom seen. Venus is a bright star, nearly as large 
as the earth ; when it rises, a short time before the sun, 
it is called the morning star ; when it sets in the even- 
ing, after the sun, it is called the evening star. 

The earth is eight thousand miles in diameter, moving 
round the sun annually at the rate of sixty-eight thou- 
sand miles an hour. 



264 

Mars is a much smaller planet than our earth, of a 
red, fiery color, visible to the naked eye. 

Jupiter is nearly fifteen hundred times larger than the 
earth, and the largest of all the planets, it being usually 
surrounded -with belts, similar to our clouded atmosphere, 
and no doubt a peopled world like ours. 

Saturn is one thousand times larger than our earth, 
encircled by a broad ring, divided into two parts, revolv- 
ing round it as satellites or moons, and no doubt a 
habitable world of life. 

Herschel is the most distant planet, ninety times larger 
than the earth, seldom seen without a telescope, like- 
wise inhabited. 

There are eighteen secondary planets or moons, of 
which the Earth has one, Jupiter four, Saturn seven, 
and Herschel six. Eesides these, more than four hun- 
dred comets have been discovered, revolving round the 
sun at different and long periods of time. 

The only true teacher of the world is the profound 
philosopher, who draws his information from the lights 
of nature, from which all demonstrative, self-evident and 
rational truths have been derived, the lights of nature 
being the first and only true source of revelation, ever 
calculated to give man a true knowledge of the law^s of 
nature. 

Such is the infinite wisdom, greatness and goodness 
of God, as shown in his works of creation ; and all the 
numerous systems in the world not based on the funda- 
mental laws that govern the natural world, are only the 
invention of knavish men, not to enlighten but to be- 
wilder the mind. 



265 

We finally close this subject with a further view of 
the coraetary system, not yet fully developed to a won- 
dering world. 



Distances of Stars in the Milky Way, 

In recrard to the distances of some of these stars, we 
may easily conceive that they are immense, and, conse- 
quently, far removed from our distinct comprehension^ 
Sir W. Herschel, in endeavoring to determine "a sound- 
ing line," as he calls it, to fathom the depth of the stra- 
tum of stars in the Milky Way, endeavors to prove, by 
pretty conclusive reasoning, that his twenty feet tele* 
scope penetrated to a distance in the profundity of space 
not less than four hundred and ninety-seven times the 
distance of Sirius; so that a stratum of stars amounting 
to four hundred and ninety-seven in thickness, each of 
them as far distant beyond another as the star Sirius is 
distant from our sun, was within the reach of his vision 
when looking through that telescope. Now, the least 
distance at which we can conceive Sirius to be from the 
earth or the sun is 2,000,000,000,000, or twenty billions 
of miles ; and, consequently, the most distant stars visi- 
ble in his telescope must be four hundred and ninety-seven 
times this distance, that is, 9,940,000,000,000,000, or 
nearly ten thousand billions of miles ! Of such 
immense distances it is evident we can form nothing 
approaching to a distinct perception. We can only 
approximate to a rude and imperfect idea by estimating 
the time in which the swiftest bodies in nature would 
move over such vast spaces. Light, which is endowed 
23 



266 

with the swiftest degree of motion yet known, and which 
flies at the rate of nearly twelve millions of miles every 
minute, w^ould require one thousand six hundred and 
forty years before it eouW traverse the mighty interval 
stated above ; and a cannon ball, flying at the rate of 
five hundred miles an hour, would occupy more than 
2,267,800,000, or two thousand two hundred and sixty- 
seven millions eight hundred thousand years in passing 
through the same space ! a period of years before wHich 
all the duration that had passed since man was placed 
on this globe appears only like a few fleeting hours, or 
*' as a handbreadth or a span/^ 

Here, then, let us pause for a moment, and consider 
the august spectacle presented to view. We behold a 
few whitish spaces in the firmament, almost overlooked 
by a common observer, when he casts a rude glance 
upon the evening sky ; yet, in this apparently irregular 
belt, which appears only like an accidental tinge on the 
face of the firmament, we discover, by optical instru- 
ments, what appears to be an amazing and boundless 
universe. We behold not only tens of thousands, but 
MILLIONS of splendid suns, where not a single orb can be 
perceived by the unassisted eye ? The distance at 
w^hich these luminous globes are placed from our abode, 
is altogether overwhelming ; even the most lively im- 
agination drops its wing when attempting its flight into 
snch unfathomable regions. The scenes of grandeur 
and magnificence connected with such august objects, 
are utterly overwhelming to such frail and limited 
beings as man, and perhaps even more exalted orders of 
intelligences may find it difficult to form even an ap- 



267 

proximate idea of objects so distant, so numerous and so 
sublime. 

On our first excursions into the celestial regions, we 
are almost frightened at the idea of the distance of such 
<i body as Saturn, which a cannon ball projected from 
the earth, and flying with its utmost velocity, would 
not reach in one hundred and eighty years. We ar€ 
astonished at the size of such a planet as Jupiter, which 
could contain in its circumference more than a thousand 
globes as large as the earth. We are justly amazed at 
the stupendous magnitude of the sun, which is a thou- 
sand times the size of Jupiter, and which illuminates 
with its splendor a sphere of more thaa five thousand 
millions of miles in circumference. But what are all 
such distances and dimensions, vast and amazing as they 
are, compared with the astonishing grandeur of the 
scene before us ? They sink into comparative insigni- 
ficance^ and are almost lost sight of amid the myriads of 
splendid suns which occupy the profundities of the 
Milky Way. What is one sun and one planetary sys- 
tem in the presence of ten millions of suns, perhaps 
far more resplendent, and of a hundred times this number 
of spacious worlds, which doubtless revolve around 
them ? Yet this scene, stupendous as it is, is not the 
universe. It is, perhaps^ only a comparatively small 
corner of creation, which beings at an immensely greater 
distance will behold as an obscure and scarcely discern- 
able speck on the outskirts of their firmament. 

The Cometary World* 
The recent ap])earance in the starry heavens of a 
brilliant comet, visible to the naked eye, has directed 



268' 

public attention to a subject which will ever remain one 
of the most interesting to mankind. We know^ as yet, but 
little about these beautiful wandering stars^ except that 
many thousands, perhaps countless millions of them, are 
pervading our solar system, though by far the greatest 
portion of them are only visible by telescope. Neither 
is it certain that all of them revolve round our central 
luminary ; on the contrary, it is quite possible and be- 
lieved by some astronomers, that many of them shoot 
into our system from distant worlds, and after obeying 
the laws of gravitation of our planetary system while 
sojourning with us, dart again from us into infinite 
space, under iiircumstances similar to those which fa- 
vored their attraction by out sun. That they obey the 
laws of gravitation when visible to our eyes, is evident 
from the fact that they describe invariably one of the 
curves known in mathematics under the name of conic 
sections, i. e., either an ellipse, a parabola, or a hyper- 
bole. Any one of these three curves or the circle being 
the resultant or orbit of a body moved simultaneously 
by an attractive (centripetal) and progressive (centrifu- 
gal) force. We see comets onl}^ when they approach 
the sun (in their perihelion passage) during which time 
their velocity is rapidly increasing, along with their 
lustre and that singular appendage called the tail> 
-which often extends over many degrees of the celestial 
sphere. It is during this period only that we can obtain 
the necessary data in regard to their orbit, and as an elon- 
gated ellipse and a parabola whose focus is the same, differ 
very Httle from each other, in the portion of the curve 
next to that focus^ which in this case is our sun^ it is 



269 

extremely difficult to determine which of these curves 
is that described by the comet. Comets are, moreover, 
composed of so thin and transparent a nebulous matter, 
that they suffer ^reat disturbances in their course from 
the different planets of our solar system, which often 
twist and retard their course by very considerable 
periods. The velocity with which comets dart through 
space is wonderful ; surpassing by far that of the earth, 
and approaching that of lightning ; but as they recede 
from the sun, that velocity diminishes, until they be- 
come invisible. Of all the comets observed to this day, 
three only have positively been recognized as describing 
regular orbits round our luminary. The first of these 
is Halley's comet, observed in 1456, 1531, 1607, 1682, 
1759 and 1835, and which will appear again in 1911. 
Its period of revolution is between 75 and 76 years. It 
approaches the sun to within 60 million miles, and re- 
cedes from it 3,820 millions of miles. The second is 
that of Encke, revolving round the sun in about 3^ 
years. It had first been observed in 1786, and its pe- 
riodicity noted in 1825, 1828, 1832, &c. The period 
of revolution of this comet diminishes at each revolution, 
and this, as has been satisfactorily shown by the Berlin 
astronomer, is owing to the resisting medium or ether, 
with which our planetary system, and probably the 
whole universe, is filled. This comet, therefore, unless 
some new causes affect its course, must finally tail into 
the sun. 

The third known comet is that of Eiela, which 
revolves round the sun in about 6| years. When ap- 
proaching the sun, it comes very near the earth's orbit, 
23* 



270 

which occasioned some apprehension in 1832. But 
Arago, a French Astronomer, showed that, although 
that comet would cross the earth's orbit, it would never- 
theless be 55 millions of miles from the earth at the 
time of its crossing. Had the comet been retarded a 
month in its course, then it would indeed have met the 
earth in the point of intersection ; but beyond atmo- 
spheric changes of a more or less unpleasant nature, no 
great damage might have resulted from the collision. 
So extremely thin and rare is the matter of which this 
comet is composed, that stars of the 16th and 17th 
magnitude have been seen through it, as through a disc. 
The orbits of other comets have indeed been computed, 
but their return has not yet been verified by experience. 
Thus Argelander, of the University of Bonn, fixes the 
period of the revolution of the brilliant comet seen in 
1811, (which remained near 10 months above the hori- 
zon) at 2,888 years. Bessel computed the same at 
3^883 years. Its mean distance from the sun is 80,000, 
its greatest distance 160,000 millions of miles. 

The revolution of the comet of 1807, Bessel estimated 
at 1543 years. Of course, this is more or less conjec- 
tural. More certain is the periodicity of that discovered 
by Olbers, in 1815, computed at 74 years. It may 
therefore be looked for in 1889. Rabinet, a French 
astronomer, has recently discovered the periodicity and 
identicity of the comet observed as early as in the years 
of 104, 392, 683, 975, 1,263 and 1,556, revolving 
round the sun in about 300 years. He predicted its re- 
appearance in 1848 ; but it failed to come, owing, as has 
since been ascertained, to the immense disturbances suf- 



271 

fered by the attraction of some of our planets. These, 
as has been ascertained by Bomme, a German computer, 
must retard its appearance several years, and we may 
look for it, therefore, from 1856 till 1860. To give an 
idea of the difficulty of computing the disturbances in the 
orbits of comets, from the attraction of the larger planets, 
we would simply mention, that it took two of the great- 
est astronomers of France, Clairaut and Lalande, for six 
consecutive months, from morning till night, every day, 
to calculate the distance of each of the two planets, Jupi- 
ter and Saturn, from Halley's comet for every degree, 
for a period of one hundred and fifty years. This task 
would never have been accomplished, nor even attempt- 
ed, as Lalande says, but for the assistance of Madame 
Lepaute, a lady devoted to the science of astronomy. 
Bomme, the German astronomer just referred to, has 
alone accomplished the herculean task of computing the 
disturbing influences of all the planets upon his comet, 
for a period oi three hundred years I 

The great distinguishing characteristics of comets are 
their intersections of the ecliptic at all angles, (that of 
1811 was almost perpendicular to it,) the very great 
eccentricity of their orbits, the astonishing velocity of 
their course, and the constant changes in appearance 
during their approach to the sun, and on receding from 
that luminary. Indeed, so great are the changes in the 
appearance of their bodies, that it would almost be im- 
possible to recognize the re-appearance of any one of 
them, were we not apprised of their coming by mathe- 
matical calculation. Thus Ilerschel observed Ilalley's 
comet from October, 1835, till the end of January, 1^36, 



272 

from the Cape of Good Hope, changing in appearance 
from day to day, and from hour to hour. Now it ap- 
peared highly condensed, and shielded on the side next 
to the sun by a luminous crescent, then there appeared 
long luminous tails in various directions, then an almost 
planetary disk of 1| seconds in diameter, and at last an 
appearance like a satellite of Jupiter in a thick fog. The 
comet appeared to Herschel as fairly evaporated in its 
nearest approach to the sun, and transformed into trans- 
parent vapor, thence recommencing the process of rapid 
condensation and precipitation on its nucleus. Strove 
observed the same comet in October, 1835, at Pulkova, 
Russia, and published a work on the subject. He saw 
the nucleus, and a flame issuing from it, ''as from some 
engine of artillery, and driven on one side by the wind.'' 
Nearly in the opposite direction there was a second 
flame, more faint than the first, yet distinctly visible. 
The rapid changes in the appearance of the comet were 
equally marked by Struve at Pulkova, Russia, as by 
Herschel, at the Cape of Good Hope ; they could not, 
therefore, originate in the state of our atmosphere. 

The comet of 1744 presented six luminous tails, which 
appeared above the horizon long after the comet itself 
had sunk below it. Finally Biela's comet, in 1846, was 
distinctly observed double^ the two comets being sepa- 
rated from each other by one-thirteenth of the diameter 
of the sun. 

These two comets were differently lighted, one bright- 
er than the other, but changing position in that respect 
also, and oscillating about each other according to some 
unknown law. All these phenomena prove that the 



273 

sun, besides attracting the comet, exercises a most strik- 
ing influence on the particles of matter of which the 
comet is composed, producing expansions and contrac- 
tions in particular directions, not simply to be accounted 
for by simple inertia and gravitation. It is therefore 
supposed that the sun exercises a magnetic or electric 
influence on the nebulous matter of the comet, and that 
the attraction of the comet to the sun, and its receding 
from that body, is similar to the attraction and repulsion 
of a pith ball by the conductor of an electrical machirte. 

In regard to the matter of which comets are com- 
posed, Arago has recently divided them into three 
classes — 1st. Those which appear round, with planetary 
discs, such as appear dark when passing between us and 
the sun, like Mercury and Venus, of which one has been 
observed in Nov. 1H26. 2d. Those which have a nu- 
cleus, which, however, is transparent and not opaque ; 
and 3dly, those, by far the most numerous, which have 
no nucleus at all, and resembling nothing we know of 
on our earth. All of them, how^ever, follow the law of 
gravity. The same philosopher also noticed the pheno- 
mena of polarization in the light emitted by comets, a 
quality only exhibited by reflected light ; thus proving 
that the nebulous matter of which they are composed 
becomes translucid only by the action of the sun upon 
their masses. 

There was a theory that the comets w^re incipient 
planets, gradually condensing and increasing in. opacity 
from the nebulous form, based princi])ally on La Place's 
''nebular theory.^' As that theory, however, has fallen, 
with the resolution by Ross' telescope of the principal 



274 

nebula in the heavens, and especially that in the constel- 
lation Orion, into myriads of fixed stars, the nebular 
theory of the comets, based on an analogy to these phe- 
nomena, has properly fallen ^Yith it. The probability 
is, we shall not know much about the constitution of 
comets till one of their number, on its perihelion pas- 
sage, shall cross the earth's orbit, at a point where the 
earth itself is in a favorable position for an observer on 
its surface. 

Great were the superstitions formerly connected in 
the minds of men with the appearance of comets. It is 
said, though not true, that the comet of 1556 frightened 
Charles V. so much, that, with a mind and constitution 
already shattered, he shut himself up in a convent, 
where he died. Halley's comet frightened the Turks 
in 1466, very opportunely for the Christians; and the 
Saxons in 1066, very fortunately for William the Con- 
queror. The comiCt of 1811 was supposed to omen no 
good to Napoleon ; and we know not how the Russians 
and Turks may interpret the comet recently seen in 
Europe and America. That comet, observed for some 
time by Klinkerfuss, was computed at thirty millions of 
miles from the sun, and twice or thrice as remote from 
the earth. This refers probably to its perihelion distance 
from the sun. We are not aware that its periodic time 
has as yet been computed. 

Nothing proves so conclusively the absurdity of as- 
cribing* particular events to the appearance of comets, or 
eclipses of the sun or moon, as the fact that they obey 
immutable laws, and consequently form part of the 
regular architecture and scheme of the universe. What 



275 

appears irregular to us, is only so from time, because 
we cannot follow all the orbits through such periods as 
are necessary to the contemplation of their harmony. 
To show the miserable span of life allotted to man's life 
and observation, we need only reflect that the distance 
of the sun from the fixed star Jilcyone, round which our 
luminary is supposed to gravitate, is so great, that a ray 
of light, traveling at the rate of two hundred thousand 
miles in a second, would require more than five centuries 
to meet the surface of our luminary ; and that, by the 
aid of telescopes, we have already actually penetrated 
to systems of worlds several thousand times as remote 
in space. When looking at the nearest fixed star, we 
do not see that body as it is at the time of observation, 
but as it was forty years ago, when the ray of light 
which strikes our eye departed from it ; all that time 
having been spent in coming to us. In contemplating 
some of the nebula, or in resolving these into stars, by 
Ross' telescope, we behold, for the first time, worlds 
w^hose light must have passed more years on its road to 
the observer's eye, than the whole period oi our world's 
history ! And yet the light from those distant worlds 
follows the same law obeyed by the flame of our com- 
monest candles, as the motion of the most distant comets 
and planets are governed by the same principle which 
governs the motion of a drop of spray on the falls of the 
Schuylkill. Without the universality of the laws of 
nature, we should know nothing about the heavenly bo- 
dies at cill ; while the mind of man itself would, in the 
general confusion of ideas, be little superior to the in- 
stinct of animals. 



276 



PHILOSOPHICAL VIEW OF THE PROPHECIES, 

Jis to their true import. 

In illustrating this subject, like all others emanating 
from it, we must begin at the beginning or infancy of 
the world, when ignorance, superstition and bigotry was 
the prevailing standard of faith and practice, without 
the light of science or knowledge of mental philosophy 
to guide the mind to a rational conclusion on a subject 
which the only true light that God has given to man is 
the observation and experience of his senses on the 
operation of causes and effects of the surrounding objects 
of visible nature ; further than this man knows nothing, 
he being a terrestrial creature, although organized with 
powers of body and mind, his judgment is limited to the 
horizon of his vision, which reaches by artificial means 
as far as the planet Herschel ; here is the limits of the 
knowledge of the scientific astronomer, the profound 
philosopher, the far-sighted statesmen, the close observer 
of the actions of men, the cause and effect of their opera- 
tion ; the classical scholar, who has been taught the 
whole phenomenon of nature, does not presume to know 
what cannot be known ; he keeps within the legitimate 
limits of his orbit and fathom-line ; the profound philo- 
sopher has traced the laws by which God governs na- 
ture, the laws of mind, as connected with matter, the 
operation of mind on matter and matter on mind, he has 
traced motion to its source, and discovered it to be like 
the flying comet, merging into deity, without which, 
deity could not exist, yet the profound philosopher does 



277 

not presume to know anything more of God than by the 
knowledge of his works. Newton explained the laws 
which govern the world ; Franklin was a profound phi- 
losopher, statesman, husband, father, and friend to the 
world, who stood conspicuous amongst God's r'oblemen, 
the revolutionary sages of the land, as a clear headed, 
strong minded man. 

We have read of the wise sages of Greece, the god- 
like spirits of Rome, but behold a greater is here, a host 
of heroes in the field, in the council, accomplished in all 
the heroic virtues of accumulated ages, improving on the 
improvements of the rights of man and the dignity of the 
soul, battling for the rights of millions yet to be, unlike 
the soul-debasing conquerors of olden times, Joshua and 
Alexander, the great robbers of the world, the violaters 
of every virtue and participators of every crime ; Alex- 
ander's chief captains divided his conquered world be- 
tween themselves ; Moses and Joshua exterminated their 
conquered nations, man, woman and suckling at the 
breast, virgin maids excepted. Who can read the thirty- 
first chapter of Numbers and not catch a short breath, 
and heave a sympathetic sigh for the wickedness and 
tyranny exercised over the common masses of the peo- 
ple, under the sanctity of religious fraud and double 
duplicity, and yet to this day practiced over the old 
world, where men are kept in a state of pupilage from 
the cradle to the grave, by designing prophets, priests 
and knaves, presuming to know the mysteries of God, 
in clashing systems of faith and practice. 

What is Christian popery, with its prison-houses of 
hell, to delude iimocent victims to sensuality and crime, 
24 



278 

to shut them up in their harems, excluded from the lights 
and beauties of heaven and earth, and all the outer 
world, the young victim taught to repeat the following 
prayer before the image of the virgin Mary : 

" Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Angels and Era- 
press of Heaven, Mother undefiled by man, Mother of our 
Redeemer, Queen of Patriarchs, Queen of Priests, Apos- 
tles, Martyrs and Holy Confessors;'^ this with a much 
lengthier prayer of pagan worship, to an ivory, marble 
or waxen doll, dressed in gold lace, pearls and diamonds, 
generally worshiped on bended knees before the idol ; 
this, and singing a hymn, composed of such unmeaning 
gibberish, with confession, when the sensual confessor 
requires it. 

The number of confessors in a nunnery is proportioned 
to the nuns, and a daily change of confessors, as variety 
requires to sweeten the joys of life and pleasures of their 
harem. Roman priests in large cities, where they keep 
a record of their members, requires female attendance at 
the confessional from nine years old and upwards, re- 
quiring the Jewish rites, the firstlings of the womb; 
thus giving the Roman priest a greater variety of virgin 
innocence than Solomon ever enjoyed ; and as priests 
have no families, their home is a wandering life of plea- 
sure and high living; and if celibacy and the confessional 
were done away, Christian popery would sink to rise no 
more, the charm of celibacy would be dissolved. 

In vain has the writer searched in pagan or heathen 
mythology, for a system of worship of equal turpitude 
and soul-debasing brutality, but can find no parallel to 
Christian popery ; and say that all the ingenuity of 
man and satan combined, could not devise a more insidi- 



279 

ous system than popery to wind a chain around the 
world more subtle than the Gordian knot, which will 
require the sword of an Alexander to sever. This 
sword must first, the darkened prison-houses of harems 
burst, ere virtue visit them, or truth let in her glowing 
daylight in a world of sin. Here will be farther ex- 
plained, not only the improbability but the impossibility 
of man possessing supernatural power over God's works 
of creation; he whose vision is solely limited to terres- 
trial things, cannot, according to the invariable laws 
that Infinite Wisdom has constituted, know heavenly 
things through any other medium than his natural sense,, 
and that none but a knave attempts the presumption of 
exercising supernatural power over God and his works ; 
therefore no man, whose education has been suflScient to 
understand himself, his circumscribed power of body and 
mind will ever conscientiously attempt to know further 
than the limits of his capacity, which is all confined to 
the horizon of his observation and experimental know- 
ledge, in the contracted orbit. 

This is what is called philosophical reasoning, from 
cause to effect ; such as ignorance in the cause of super- 
stition, which is the cause of error, of false doctrines, 
false teaching, false preaching, miracle and delusion, all 
offsprings of soul-debasing ignorance, the mother of all 
crimes ; hence the bounden duty of republican Americans 
to educate their sons in scientific knowledge, (h^non- 
strative and rational, truth, which is the detector of 
error, the ex])lainer of the true laws by whicli God go- 
verns the world, leading the mind up through nature to 
nature's God. Science is the philosopher's ladder to 



280 

climb to heaven, he traces motion into the source of 
deity co-eternal, and co-existent attribute of God; there 
his mind worships in silent adoratic?!^ at the throne of 
Omnipotence, not presuming to intrude his mortality in 
the eifulgent glory of the Eternal ; unlike the illiterate 
fishermen of Gallilee, with the son of Mary as their 
leader, all presuming infinite and supernatural power 
over the works of God. Prophets, priests, kings and 
knaves, preaching dark-tangled doctrines. 

We shall now show more clearly the drift of this sub- 
ject by the following testimony, a deception and fraud 
practiced on the world by prophets, priests, kings and 
knaves, designers of varying systems, all in opposition to 
each other, all vague and inconsistent, without one par- 
ticle of rational testimony to support the truth of a single 
prophecy or doctrine taught, from the beginning of 
Genesis to the last of the Revelations, showing that no 
reliable faith can be placed in the prophecies WTote under 
the political inspection of governing power, W'hen igno- 
rance, superstition and fraud reigned, when might and 
not right ruled the world, and truth, sense and know- 
ledge was treason against throne and pulpit, and reigned 
triumphant until the American Revolution. 

The Christian advocates lay great stress on the pro- 
phecies of the Old Testament ; they have collected every 
portion therein, from the Jewish rituals to the Christian 
dispensation, and construe every righteous man in the 
Old Testament, as a type of Jesus, every event is de- 
signed to portray the life of Jesus, and torture every 
clause that has the least tinge of poetic delusion into a 
direct prophecy of a redeemer of the children of Abra- 



281 

ham, which shows plainly that as the Jews were a self- 
ish people, and taught by their priests that they were 
the favorites of God, the chosen nation over all other 
nations not of their religion, and that all other nations 
were unclean and not fit to intermarry with them, and 
only fit for spoil, plunder and extermination, so that when 
they would depopulate heathen nations, they would be 
the holy people of God, although their worship was de- 
vised and practiced with all external forms of heathen 
idolatry, their lewd feasts and drunken gluttony, with 
all the wickedness and fantastic religion, their scape- 
goats in carrying off the sins of their people, their 
indelicate and unjust test of the virginity of young 
married women, the test of jealousy, the holy anointing 
oil, the holy unction, and many other idolatrous rites of 
heathen superstition, with all the ridiculous externals 
on which popery based their abominable systems. 

Will the world never be disabused, but held in a state 
of pupilage from the cradle to the grave ; be led by 
halters, like beasts of burthen, instead of every man be- 
coming his own priest and prophet, to view in antici- 
pation coming events from past causes, tjie source from 
whence all true prophecies or human judgments have 
emanated, and that there are many far-sighted states- 
men, philosophers and studious men, whose judgment is 
solely based on strict observation of the phenomenon of 
natural causes and results ; they see that God governs 
the world by cause and effect, by which He operates 
His gorgeous world of wisdom and beauty ; our stu- 
dious philosophers are analyzing nature, and approach- 
ing, by duo graduation, the source of wisdom, whicli, 
24* 



282 

when the majority of men arrive at, superstition, false 
"worship, and degraded ignorance will vanish before the 
God-bestowed power of reason and philosophy, stimu- 
lating every republican freeman to raise himself to hon- 
orable distinction. 

This is no overwrought picture of what this life would 
be, if the aforesaid principles of refined sense, from the 
pure source of intellectual knowledge, which you can 
only have from the lights of the sciences, which are 
based on demonstrative, self-evident cause and effect, 
supported by the faculties of sound sense and reason, all 
other notions of interested fanatics, presuming to know 
the mysteries of God, and yet totally ignorant of their 
senses of body or mind, the light of science, or the common 
laws of nature, blind leaders of the blind, and wolves in 
sheep's clothing, such as have long deluded the world. 

We shall now proceed to show plainly that no reli- 
ance is to be placed upon the testimony of witnesses 
who give contradictory answers to questions put to them, 
or express different or contrary opinions either prior 
to, or on strict examination ; and show that according 
to the New Testament of Jesus, his apostles, and the 
four evangelists' predictions, sayings and preachings, 
from the first of Matthew to the latter end of Revela- 
tion ; and likewise the Bible, showing the false con- 
struction the Jewish preachers put on the Jewish pro- 
phecies to support the divine mission of Jesus, and 
show", from a comparative view of the case, that no 
allusions of the Jewish prophecies are at all applicable 
to the founders of Christianity, as their exterminat- 
ing wars were chiefly against all nations not of their 



283 

contracted system of heathen worship ; nor can they 
torture any Jewish prophecy meant for any other people, 
but as an encouragement to the dynasty of their own 
nation, and as a further proof that the Jewish nation 
never believed the prophets prophecied against their 
ow^n nation, to support a new religious system, to op- 
pose their own, and that, in either case, their prophets 
are totally destitute of credit even by the sensible part 
of their ow'n people, and from their number of idle and 
illiterate vagrants, were considered a pest to the nation, 
involving their government in war to raise themselves 
into eminence; and that the sayings and doings of men, 
grossly ignorant of the laws of God or man, ought not 
to be entitled to any credit or belief by unprejudiced and 
intelligent men, and that the science of nature and mind 
is only wanting to scatter like a breeze the whole dark 
system of human mockery ; and the pure knowledge of 
science and rational sense, renovate the world ; and as in 
our enlightened republic every freeman's voice can be 
heard, more especially when he is considered as account- 
able to God and to his country for his sayings and doings ; 
therefore, in this volume and its various subjects, a true 
and unbiassed exposition will be given, independent of 
the anathemas of the pulpit, the sneer of the bigot, or the 
denunciation of scriptural knaves, who think to intimidate 
by their blasphemous denunciations; and the author will 
fearlessly advocate truth and expose falsehood, and tear 
the veil from the face of the demi-gods of earth, and the 
deluilers of the w^orld, and here show proof sufficient to 
sustain every charge made in this work to unprejudiced 
and enlightened minds. 



284 

It is time, in nearly the sixtieth century of the world, 
to disabuse and expose the tyranny of king, priest, pro- 
phet, evangelist and apostle, which, by their united 
efforts, have kept the world in mental and physical 
bondage to the present day. We shall now commence 
with the Jewish prophecies, and show that no reference 
can be applicable to the founders of Christianity, or 
even credit any thing that they have predicted, and 
that they were generally a wandering set of vagrants, 
living by duplicity, on the credulity and ignorance of 
the populace, telling their own tales of miracles and 
prophecies. 

Isaiah, chap. ii. ^^ Let us go up into the mountain 
of the Lord which shall be exalted above the hills, and 
all the nations shall bow unto it. And He will teach us 
His waj's, and walk in His paths, for out of Zion will go 
forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem, 
and they shall beat their swords into pruning-hooks, and 
learn the art of war no more.'^ This prophecy cannot 
in any way be applied to the Christian dispensation, as 
it has caused more wars than any other equal period of 
time on record. 

Chap. vii. ^^ Therefore, the Lord himself will give you 
a sign : behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, 
and call his name Immanuel. Butter and honey shall 
he eat, that he may know how to refuse the evil and 
choose the good.'^ 

This in no way can he applied to Jesus, who knew 
not his father, as he sometimes said he was the son of 
man, at other times the son of God ; poor and houseless. 



285 

he did not live on dainty fare. This was spoken to King 
Ahaz, as comforting him, and altogether alludes to the 
Jewish trouble of that time, 760 years before Jesus was 
born. 

Chap. ix. ^^Unto us a child is born, a child is given; 
and the government shall be on his shoulders, and he 
shall be called Wonderful Counsellor, the Prince of Peace, 
and his government shall have no end ; the Lord of Hosts 
will perform this." 

This, like many obscure prophecies, has no direct 
meaning or allusion to Jesus, who never had rule over 
anything but illiterate fishermen. 

Chap. xi. ^^ And there shall come forth a rod out of 
the stem of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his 
roots." This prophecy represents a reign of peace. 

Chap.xxviii. '^Behold, T lay in Zion a sure foundation 
stone ; he that believeth shall not make haste. Judg- 
ment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the 
plummet ; and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of 
lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding-place." 

This has no point whatever, and can in no way be 
applicable to Jesus. Here, in the same chapter, is a 
sample of prophecies seven hundred years before Jesus 
was born: "I only give him his first name; both the 
priests and the prophets err through strong drink; they 
wallow in wine, and stumble in judgment ; their tables 
are full of vomit, so that there is no place clean." These 
are the men that presume to know the mind of God 700 
years after their day. Such prophecies we take as texts, 
and preach sermons from such authority, and call it holy 
writ at this day. 



286 

Chap, xxxii. ^^ Behold, a king shall reign in righte- 
ousness, and princes shall rule in judgment. And a man 
shall be as a hiding-place from the wind, and a covert 
from the tempest ; as rivers of water in a dry place, as 
the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. And the 
eyes of them that see shall not be dim, and the ears of 
them that hear shall hearken'^ — with much more unin- 
telligible jargon. This is the w^ay that knavish priests 
and prophets bewilder, instead of enlighten the ignorant. 

Chap. Ixvi. '^ He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a 
man ; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog's 
neck ; he that ofTereth an oblation, as if he offered swine's 
blood ; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. 
Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their souls 
delighteth in their abominations.'' 

Chap. Ivi. ^^ Yea, they are greedy dogs, which can 
never have enough ; they all look to gain from their own 
quarter. Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we 
will fill ourselves with strong drink, and to-morrow shall 
be as this day and much more abundant." 

Chap. xlii. ^^ Behold my servant, in whom my soul 
delighteth ; I have put my spirit upon him, to bring 
judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not fail, until he 
have set judgment on the earth, and the isles shall wait 
for his law." 

Another sample of the Jewish priests and prophets : — 
Jeremiah, xxiii. ^^I have seen in the prophets of Jerusa- 
lem a horrible thing ; they commit adultery, and walk 
in lies ; they are all of them evil-doers, like the inhabit- 
ants of Sodom and Gomorrah." 

Chap. xxiv. " And I will put my law in the people's 



287 

hearts, and they shall no more teach their fellow-nn.en, 
for all shall know me, from the lowest to the highest.'^ 

This last prophecy is admitted ; when the lights of 
science and knowledge of mind shall prevail, then the 
whole dark pile of human mockeries shall vanish, like 
the effulgence of God, penetrating the dark chaos of 
anarchy, into the laws of order and harmony. 

Ezekiel, xxiii. ^^ They have committed adultery, and 
blood is in their hands, and they have caused their sons 
to pass for them through the fire, to devour them, and 
slain their children to idols ; they have set light by fether 
and mother, and dealt oppression on the stranger, and 
vexed the fatherless and widows ; they carry tales to 
commit blood, and commit lewdness and abomination 
with their neighbors' wives, and lewdly defile his 
daughters and their own sisters, taking gifts to shed 
blood, and increased usury for greedy gain ; there is a 
conspiracy between priest and prophet ; like roaring 
lions for their prey, they have taken treasures, devoured 
souls, and made many w^idows ; like ravenous wolves, 
shedding blood to get dishonest gain, lie in the name of 
God, committing robbery on the poor and needy, and 
w^rongfully oppress the stranger; slain their children 
to their idols, and came the same day to the sanctuary 
to profane it. Wo be to the shepherds of Israel; they 
cat the fat, clothe with the wool, but feed not the flock." 

IJosea, vi. '' As troops of robbers wait for a man, so 
the com|)any of priests murder in the way, and ijy con- 
sent commit lewdness." 

Amos, V. ''1 hate and despise your feast days, your 
solemn assemblies ; I will not accept meat ollerings, nor 



288 

regard the peace-otFerings of your fat beasts, nor the 
noise of your song, nor the melody of your viols. '^ 

Micah, iii, ^- The priests teach, and prophets divine 
for money, and they that putteth not in their own mouths 
they make war upon.'^ 

This ends a brief exposition of the Jewish prophecies, 
a dark emblem of the founders of the New Testament. 

In commenting on the truth or fallacy of the New" 
Testament, the writer takes the following philosophical 
and rational basis : that no effect can be produced w^ith- 
out a cause, and that natural cause and effect is the 
main principle whereby God governs and produces the 
various phenomena of nature ; that natural laws are 
God's laws, and operate as invariable as his infinite 
wnsdom, and that no being on earth has power to reverse 
the laws of Omnipotence, or to pry into futurity or the 
secretsof God, further than the observations of his com- 
mon senses, hearing, seeing, etc.; and that both priests 
and prophets are what the Eible testimony states theni 
to be as heretofore stated ; blind leaders of the blind, 
wolves in sheep's clothing, the scum and curse of the 
world. 

We shall now state impartially, yet critically, the de- 
gree of credit to be given to the truth or fallacy of the 
doctrines of the New Testament and its origin and basis. 
Now the birth of Jesus was on this w^ise, when his mo- 
ther, Mary, was espoused to Joseph, before they came 
together, she was found w^ith child, and Joseph being a 
just man, concluded to put her away privately, when a 
report was started that she was with child by a newly- 
discovered deity called the Holy Ghost ; '' And behold, 



289 

there came wise men from the East to Jerusalem, say- 
ing where is he that is born king of the Jews, for we 
are come to worship him.'' 

It is here to be observed, that these wise men did not 
know in what part of, or around the city of Jerusalem, 
to find the new-born king of the Jews, and being in- 
formed, they came into the house and i^aw the child with 
his mother, and worshiped him, presenting: him gold and 
other gifts ; there is no testimony but vague reports by 
Mary's friends, to reconcile her husband Joseph, not to 
put her away, but although Joseph denied the legiti- 
macy of Jesus, he lived with her, as far as we have any 
knowledge of, about twelve years, she following the 
fortune of her son, and, at his crucifixion, taken in care 
by the apostle John. 

Having now introduced Jesus, what his apostles 
termed him, a prophet, priest and king, thus showing 
the depth of his prophecy. Jesus foretold his death to 
his disciples, saying that he would go into Jerusalem 
and suffer many things by the chief priests and be killed 
and be raised again the third day, and come in the glory 
of his Father with his angels, and reward every man ac- 
cording to his works, and that some standing here will 
not die until they see the son of man coming in his king- 
dom. Here is a prophecy equally as incomprehensible, 
without pith or point, as any of the Jewish prophecies, 
therefore no rational credit can be given to it. *' Wo 
unto you Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, whited 
sepulchres; ye outwardly appear righteous to men, but 
within are full of hypocrisy ; ye serpents, generation of 
vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell ; behold 
2;5 



2m 

your house is left unto you desolate ; ye shall not see 
me any more until ye say^ blessed is he that cometh in 
the name of the Lord/^ 

Here is a denunciatory prophecy, rather tending to 
provoke than to evade persecution; in language and 
effect weak and undignified, lacking wisdom ani com- 
mon sense ; a sorrowful reformer of the errors of man- 
kind. Further prophecies of the destruction of the tem- 
ple: — "Jesus sayeth, see there shall not be one stone 
left on another, that shall not be thrown down ; then 
shall ye see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of hea- 
ven, with power and great glory, and he shall send his 
angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and shall gather 
together his elect, from one end of heaven to another.'^ 
(Now learn a parable of the fig tree.) This closes the 
prophecies of Jesus, by the evangelist, Matthew, and 
none other worthy of notice. A brief comment on Jesus 
as a prophet, a priest and a king, as his converts, 
apostles and preachers styled him. Therefore, at the 
time, Jesus commenced his pretensions as a commissioned 
teacher of God, sent exclusively to reclaim the Jewish 
nation, which he expressed and stated repeatedly, that 
he was only sent to the descendants of Abraham, the 
nation of the Jews, although his apostles, being chiefly 
illiterate fishermen, they drew all kinds of fish into their 
nets. He extended his commission over the Gentiles and 
heathen world, they being more gullible than the Jews, 
Shrewd Peter claimed all that he could catch in his net, 
that would be for, and not against him, as their master 
said when his apestles complained of the vagabond 
Jews, at their drunken frolics, performing miracles in 



291 

his name, casting out devils, and raising the dead ; 
(crazy, inebriate and dead drunkards so called,) Jesus 
rej)lied, ''He that performeth miracles in my name, is 
for us, and not against us ;" (as much as to say, let the 
delusion pass.) As to miracles, ancient and modern, they 
will be explained in their proper place; and proceed to 
show, that any man of strict observation could predict 
the ruin of the temple, built at the expense of the blood 
and treasure of conquered nations ; and that Jesus was 
what his brother said and believed him to be, a fanatic, 
or a lunatic, when he came anil found him araonor the 
people, raving such language, giving his apostles the 
power to cast out devils and heal diseases, and surnamed 
Peter and other leaders of his delusion, the sons of 
thunder, to be heard all over the earth, and when his 
brother heard of it, he came to lay hold on him, say- 
ing, "he is beside himself;" for neither did his brethren 
believe in him; the Scribes said he had Belzebub, the 
prince of devils, by which he cast Out devils. Jesus 
hearing this accusation of possessing the prince of devils, 
said that all sin should be forgiven, except sin against 
the Holy Ghost, this new deity being reported by the 
evangelists and apostles, and preached up from every 
pulpit to this day. That this new deity was the father 
of Jesus, who repeatedly said he was the son of God, 
and that his Father had given him all power in Heaven 
and in earth, and he was to reign from henceforth and 
forever, supreme, eternal, and alone, showing t(f any 
intelligent mind, unbiassed by superstition or interest, 
that if any mortal, born of a woman, committed blas- 
phemy agninst the dignity of God, it was Jesus. 



292 

Further sayings and doings of Jesus, as stated by the 
evangelists, showing that no two of them tell their 
stories alike, to support a general truth on any subject 
they write on. 

Matthew begins the genealogy of Jesus, the son of 
David, the son of Abraham, and traces his life up to 
Joseph of Arimathea. Luke commences the genealogy 
of Jesus back to Adam, therefore it is entirely inconsist- 
ent to trace his line through mortality, which is stated 
and supported as far as incredulity can support delusion 
that his legitimate father w^as the third person in the 
god-head, called the Holy Ghost, therefore, he was 
not of mortal, but divine origin, and according to his 
votaries and w^o^shipers considered, what* Jesus him- 
self claimed to be, supreme God, to whom his Father 
gave up all power in heaven and earth to reign supreme 
forever. 

John xvi. "He shall glorify me, for He shall receive 
of mine, and show it to you;'' thus not only claiming 
to be God, but God of Gods. " A little while and ye 
shall not see me, and a little while and ye shall see me, 
because I go to the Father. I pray not for the w^orld, 
but for them given me, for they are thine, and they are 
mine." Matthew v. "Think not that I am come to 
destroy the law or the prophets, but to fulfill them.'* 
Matthew X. Jesus charges his apostles in sending them 
out, to go only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, 
as he'was only sent to them, and not to go to the Gen- 
tiles ; and further he said unto Simon Peter, the leader 
of the apostles, "I will give unto you the keys of hea- 
venj and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth, shall he 



293 

bound in heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt loose on 
earth, shall be loosed in heaven." And further he say- 
eth, " Whosoever shall lose his life for my sake, shall 
find it; for the Son of Man shall come in the glory of 
his Father, with his angels, and shall reward every man 
according to his works." 

Matthew vii. *' Verily I say unto you, if ye have 
fiiith, ye shall say unto yonder mountain, remove to 
yonder place, or into the sea, and it shall remove, and 
nothing shall be impossible to you." Simon Peter 
asked Jesus, how many times they should be forgiven 
who repenteth. Jesus replied, that instead of forgiving 
seven times a day, he should forgive seventy times 
seven, as the priests have construed it, forgive always 
in the confessional. This is a popish article in their 
religious creed. A wealthy young man desired to know 
on what condition, he could become a convert to the 
new religion, and Jesus said, '' Sell what ye have, and 
give to the poor, and ye shall have treasure in heaven, 
and come and follow me ; and this example his apostles 
followed whenever they could succeed in duping the 
credulous. 

Mark X. Jesus sayeth, '' Verily there is no man that 
hath left wife or children or lands for my sake and the 
gospel's, but he shall receive a hundred-fold in his time, 
houses and lands, and in the world to come eternal life.'* 
This procedure at the present day would be considered 
obtaining property under false pretences, and merit the 
state prison. Here is another fanatical trick to make 
the people wonder. In leading Jesus to trial, a young 
man followed him with a linen cloth cast about his 
25* 



294 

loins; other young men seeing him undressed, laid hold 
of him and divested him, so that he ran off" naked, thus 
closing; a ridiculous farce of laughter. 

Mark xvi. After Jesus was crucified, and said to be 
risen from the dead, he first appeared to Mary Mag- 
dalene, out of whom he cast seven devils. This 
woman must have been the most abandoned of the 
town, possessing all the evil propensities of woman, yet 
one of the most conspicuous actors of this drama ; and 
she told Simon Peter, who swore fealty to his master, 
and three times denied him, and all his apostles fled ; 
they knowing her evil propensities, did not believe her. 
Jesus afterwards appeared unto the eleven, and up- 
braided them, and said ; " Go into the world, and 
preach the gospel to every creature ; ye shall cast out 
devils, and take up serpents, and drink deadly things, 
and it shall not hurt ye: they shall . lay hands on the 
sick, and they shall recover.'^ And after this, he was 
received into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God ; 
this appearance was on the day of his resurrection. 
These are the principal sayings and doings of Jesus re- 
corded by Mark, much less miraculous than Matthew, 
although without even probability or shadow^ of proof, in 
any statement given by the evangelist, but strong proof 
of trick and deception, for all the miracles were done by 
deception and trickery, and no such frivolous testimony 
or baseless stories would be received to support any 
case in a common court of judicature, or before any en- 
lightened assembly of men at the present day. It 
grieves every honest heart to see the viper of popery 
entwine itself round your glorious republic, which has 



295 

degraded the old world nineteen hundred years, by 
brutalizing soul and body of man and woman ; its per- 
nicious effects in our republic is more degrading than 
African slavery ; being more insidious, it is more to be 
dreaded, and Van Buren's mission to Rome ought to be 
execrated by every true American ; none ought to be 
invited here but men of free soul and sentiment. 
Popery being a two-fold monarchy, temporal and 
spiritual, is more to be dreaded in a republic; having 
no congeniality with our institutions, therefore a vigi- 
lant eye should be kept on its encroachments. 

As to the truth of the Christian religion, the reader 
is requested to observe that the strongest testimony 
here to be given, in addition to what has been given, 
is the silence of the Jewish historian, who lived at the 
time of the commencement of the Christian religion, 
named Josephus, who scarcely gave the crucifixion any 
other notice than the execution of three felons, and that 
none of his reported miracles were believed in and about 
Jerusalem by those who knew Jesus to be what his 
brethren stated him to be, a hypocritical knave, the 
leader of a cabal of designers, to carry themselves 
into power. Now here is testimony of the most credi- 
ble kind against the belief of the sayings and miraculous 
doings of Jesus, his apostles and evangelists, which no 
two of them agree in the statement of the case. Mat- 
thew and John do not support Luke and Mark in Jesus' 
ascension to heaven, after his reported resurrection from 
the dead, nor does any of the three evangelists support 
Matthew in his extravagant and false testimony, that 
on the crucifixion there was darkness all over tlie land tor 



296 

the space of three hours ; this cannot be accredited, as no 
eclipse of the sun is recorded in any part of the world 
at that time. The temple being rent in twain by an 
^ earthquake, is proven to be a falsehood by historians 
and tourists, who saw the temple after the crucifix- 
ion in all its beauty and splendor, undisturbed by the 
execution of the three criminals, two robbers and a 
lunatic. 

" And the earth did quake, and the rocks rent, 
the graves opened, and the dead arose, and went into 
the city, and appeared unto many." Here Matthew 
states a resurrection of numbers from the dead three 
days before the reported resurrection of Jesus ; although 
our pulpit preachers state Jesus to be the first fruits of 
the resurrection, showing that there is no unanimity 
in the sayings and doings of either Jesus, his apostles, 
or the evano;elists. 

We will now distinctly state the centre on which this 
exciting subject will turn to support the truth or con- 
demn the fallacy of the Christian claim to faith or ra- 
tional probability. The origin of Christianity com- 
menced in the dark ages of the world. We are now in 
the possession of scientific knowledge called the laws of 
mind and matter, cause and effect, which God has es- 
tablished to produce the various operations of the world, 
wnthout any secondary power, to continue an eternal 
effect as Infinite Wisdom originally designed it to do. 
This is knowledge that the ancient world w^as ignorant 
of, until the delusive effects of Christian popery were 
made known by the Lutheran reformation, by which 
the world has gained m.ore useful knowledge in about 



297 

one hundred years, than it was permitted to know by 
the dehisive effects of king and priestcraft from the 
creation of the world up to this time, and that if man 
had been left the free exercise of his mental faculties, he 
would have been a happier and wiser being thousands 
of years ago. 

Let it be borne in mind by the reader, that it is truth 
instead of the reigning delusion of the world, that the 
writer is attempting to sustain, by impartial sentiments 
of self-evident, and demonstrative testimony, and ad- 
mitted histoiical facts, together with the light of sci- 
ence, which are the exposition of the invariable laws of 
God. 

The allegations and testimony for and against this most 
exciting subject, which has deluded the Christian world 
into mental bondage, exterminating wars, murder and ra- 
pine against their own votaries, who dare speak, act or 
dissent from its arbitrary doctrines, whose advocates have 
made a speculative merchandise of its jarring doctrines 
over the benighted world, nearly nineteen hundred years, 
ought to be entitled at least to the serious consideration 
of impartial judgment, for its debasing effects on dark- 
ened minds, its assum]:tion of popish power and prero- 
gative over the souls and bodies of its votaries. 

Brief recapitulation and summary. 

We have stated in the foregoing j^ages a general expo- 
sition of the pro])heci('S of the Old Testament, their in- 
credibility and inapplicability to support a single claim 
made by the writers of the New Testament, the Jews 
being taught by their priests and prophets, that they 



298 

were the chosen people of God, by virtue of their holy 
religion; they were to govern the world, and all other 
religious nations would be exterminated and supplanted 
by their holy people ; and that God would fight for 
them ; and if any of them had prophecied that any other 
religious nation would supplant them, they would have 
persecuted them, as they were a selfish insensible nation, 
who held all others in contempt. So much for the 
Jewish prophecies, to support the credulity of the New 
Testament in any particular whatever. 

We shall now show the entire impotency of the pre- 
dictions and prophecies of the New Testament, by Jesus 
the son of Mary, as stated by his biographers. The 
four evangelists reported him to be the son of the Holy 
Ghost, the third person in the trinity, born to be a pro- 
phet, priest and king of the Jews ; his prophecies chiefly 
related to the destruction of Solomon's Temple. This 
prediction, any common observer of the operations of 
man could safely predict, as its enormous wealth 
would induce the surrounding plundered nations to rob 
the robbers of their spoils, and regain part of their for- 
mer property. 

After taking the most scrutinizing examination of the 
Bible prophecies to the New Testament on the Christian 
dynasty , we find it totally destitute of any other application 
than to the Jewish nation, as their prophets endeavored 
to cheer their sinking hopes by prophecying that God 
would raise up a deliverer from their enemies, like their 
former king, David, to enrich their kingdom and conquer 
their enemies, then they would have a reign of peace 
and happiness. All Jewish prophecies that Jesus, his 



299 

evangelists and apostles claimed, as applied to themselves 
and to their master — as it was reported that he came of 
a virgin — as the stringent and indelicate law of the test 
of virginity was the ordeal of virgins after marriage, 
and that circumcision in man was instituted for this 
abominable test, so that the first born of a young mar- 
ried w^oman was considered born of a virgin, but in 
Mary's case, did not stand the test, being found with 
child before marriage, hence the story of her conception 
by a Holy Ghost. 

It is respectfully asked the thoughtful reader what 
Christianity has done to improve the world ? Now 
nearly nineteen hundred years have passed, and what 
progress in useful knowledge has it made to ameliorate 
the condition of man ? In the reign of popery what but 
desolating wars, proscription, confiscation of property 
to the church, inquisition, bastile, private dungeons, to 
immure men for complaining or speaking against their 
delusive creeds ; there without trial or the knowledore 
of his family, to die a lingering death, his children robbed 
of their just inheritance by their arbitrary rules, as con- 
fiscated to the church, to extort from their credulous 
votaries their hard-earned living, until the sixteenth 
and seventeenth centuries, when high-minded men, inde- 
pendent of the risk of life or property, spoke out agamst 
the rapacity and persecuting spirit of the priesthood 
universally, under all monarchies, where the priests ])ray 
for the king and the king fights and plunders i'or the 
priests — Protestant as well as Catliolie govnnments. 

Whei^ England, with her boaid of bishops, sanctioned 
every arbitrary enactment against American interests, 



300 

with war to the knife, the employment of savages and 
the scalping-knife, with Hessian boors — purchased by 
the head like oxen — to exterminate or conquer their 
Protestant brethern in America ; these demons of the 
church, through a seven years' war, were praying for 
the success of their king's arms, whilst their savage 
troops were butchering our unoffending people, and 
burning and ravaging our villages. This is a sample of 
king and priesthood combined against the peace and 
happiness of the world, and if crowned and mitred 
tyranny were ruled out of the world, then w^ould the 
millennium of peace, plenty and happiness bless the 
world. 



301 



THRONE AND PULPIT COMBINED, 

In opposing the intellectual improvement of mankind y 
since the earliest history of king and priestcraft, 

A philosophic exposition of this subject will embrace all 
the fundamental principles of the diiferent religious sys- 
tems of worship over the world, w^orthy of notice, and 
will be sustained by such testimony as our highest courts 
of chancery w^ould admit, if such cases could be consist- 
ently argued there; yet previous to the discussion and 
clearer understanding of the reader — for w^hich this work 
is more especially designed — as classical scholars can 
understand without so full an explanation, yet classic 
scholars are not all-wise in things different from their 
profession, whether that be theology, law, physics, na- 
tural or medical science. 

The philosopher, in examining the works of nature, 
finds all things devised and executed with infinite wis- 
dom, all the gorgeous machinery of the heavens and the 
earth moving in harmony, acted upon by the invariable 
laws of God ; therefore the noblest employment of the 
mind of man is the study of the works of creation ; to 
him who loves the science of nature every object bringeth 
proof of a God, and everything that proveth it giveth 
cause of adoration — the spiritual worship of the intel- 
lectual soul which lifts the mind to heaven, making 
life a continual source of devotional adoration; thus the 
26 



802 

philosopher, instead of attending to hear a metaphysical 
discourse from the pulpit, with dubious doctrines of faith, 
and long inconsistent prayers addressed to Infinite V^is- 
dom, to vary the laws of nature's government- — which 
are never to be reversed, until the dissolution of all 
material things. What instruction is in the study of 
ambiguous doctrines of theoloo;ical dogmas, as baseless 
and unsupported in truth as the phantom of a dream ; 
without point to the improvements of human intellect, 
or any way edifying whatever, but rather bewildering 
weak minds than enlightening them. The first know^- 
ledge man attained to at the beginning, was the obser- 
vation of the laws that governed the material world ; 
the rising and setting of the sun, the changes of the sea- 
sons, fruit-time, and flower-days and nights, with the 
general phenomena of nature, which impressed on his 
soul a strong desire for knowledge of this gorgeous world 
he lived in. 

In taking a retrospective view of the w'orld of man, 
and the chain of delusions wound around him by the 
bewildering systems of metaphysical theology, teaching 
the doctrine of the general affections of beings (generally 
understood to be spiritual beings, unconnected with ma- 
teriality) prior to the creation of man, whom mortals 
worship, and call God, but who is called Nature by 
materialists. 

On the very threshold of metaphysical science is a 
wide chasm between spiritualists and materialists — spi- 
ritualists taking the ground that something always neces- 
sarily existed, and that thing w^as a livi g spirit, who 
created all subsequent things — the other party taking 



303 

the opposite view, that all things that now exist, exist- 
ed in a gradual progress in eternity. It is as rational to 
believe that all things existed by gradual progression, as 
that one thing always existed, and that thing created all 
other things. Here the balance seenas to stand in equi- 
librium between the two speculative systems — both 
inexplicable to the human understanding, as created be- 
ings cannot comprehend uncreated things. Thus, meta- 
physical theology does not presume to enlighten, but 
bewilder the minds of men, by a mercantile speculation 
of deep duplicity, which, like the popish indulgences, 
sells to the highest bidder. 

In viewing the three religious systems that have 
sprung up since the deluge, all conceived in sin, nurtured 
in iniquity and baptized in blood and crime, each system 
embodying the w^ickedness and deception practiced by 
the former with additional system upon system, piled 
up to the skies — in vain has the writer looked through 
the delusive systems of religious bigotry from the earliest 
ages of the world ; no system is found in turpitude equi^ 
to the soul-debasing system of Christian popery, which 
contains the seeds of every vice and the bane of every 
virtue. Tlie perpetration of infanticide in their nunneries, 
the violation of virgin innocence and marriage-bed in 
their private confessionals, where every crime by their 
creed is called holy ; even rapine, wholesale massacre 
arid robbery, when the church wants plunder and spoil. 
These truths are supported by admitted testimony, as 
well as history — 

" So shall our votaries, \vhcn(,'-»'r th»y lavo, 
Procliiim that heaven took back the GojI he gavo, 



804 

That be but vanished from this earth awhile, 
To come again with bright, unclouded smile : 
So shall we build him altars in our zeal, 
Where knaves shall minister and fools shall kneeL' 

What candid and penetrating reader will deny the 
truth of this exposition? Let him view the insidious de- 
signs of the grand speculative system of the celibacy of 
their clergy; their accommodating scheme of private con- 
fession; their blasphemous assumption of committing 
crimes, and power to forgive them ; theirinsidious scheme 
of mental reservation, to conceal crimes; and, as their 
votaries are taught, that by pious fraud they may com- 
mit perjury or any other crime of the deepest dye, and 
can be forgiven, more especially if it be in favor of their 
holy church. Let them view their prison-houses of hell, 
their inquisition, their bastiles, their secret dungeons, 
where men of fortune were condemned to die and rot, 
unknown to the outer world, and their estates confiscat- 
ed to the church ; but the cap-stone of their damning 
cyreeds is the divesting morals from their religious 
code, as being inimical to the revenue of the confes- 
sional, and the sale of indulgences, thus showing to a dis- 
cerning reader that morals are no part of Christian po- 
pery, and that teaching morals would totally annihilate 
their system ; showing that popery exists only by delusive 
fraud and corruption ; and grievous to relate, can be sup- 
ported in all its w^ays and doctrines by the Old and New 
Testaments, as taught and practiced by the teachers and 
preachers, prophets and apostles ; therefore those who 
wish to be disenthralled from the delusion, must erect the 
standard of reason and sound sense, obey heaven and 



305 

the law which God has given to man, the philosophy of 
nature, which embraces all the useful knowledge of this 
world, that wouhl be of any service to him; keeping en- 
tirely clear of the bewildering systems of Christian theo- 
logy, the bane of intellect, and distractor of the human 
mind. 

Let your reason, and not your thoughtless desires, be 
the rule of your conduct; for reason being the crowning 
faculty of man, will give wisdom ; speak prudently, and 
act with propriety on all occasions ; and although Pro- 
testant Christianity is exempt from the censure oF not 
making morals and accountability to God, and the open 
laws of his country, for his actions, yet like the husband- 
man, winnowing the chaff a second time, for a few grains 
of wheat, Paul, instead of enlightening the world, bewil- 
dered the senses of the ignorant, who are always most 
credulous in the belief of supernatural wonders; at times 
he would teach morality, at other times give license to 
immorality, which, without his license, has always been 
too freely practiced, (that of fornication.) If a man be- 
haveth uncomely towards a virgin, and she past the 
flower of her age, let him do what he will, he sinneth 
not. The apostles practiced Paul's doctrine, by carrying 
about wives, spiritual sisters, a religious term, or cloak, 
for concubinism — love being the riveting link, in the 
social bond of ancient, as well as modern religion — all 
the apostles having their own construction on the doc- 
trines taught by their teacher, Jesus; — it is, that priests 
have power to give fecundity to virgins or wives, su- 
perior to other mortals, which their system of celibacy 
certainly gives them the pre-eminence, representing them- 



306 

selves in their confessionals semi-deities, enthroned in 
mortal bodies ; claiming the power of transubstantiation 
(God in man) in the sacramental wafer, with the sacra- 
mental elements according to Lutheranism, the emblem 
of divinity by Presbyterians. Here the reader is left to 
judge of the consistency of the aforesaid principal points 
in the Christian religion, w-hich ambiguity has cost the 
world hundreds of millions of lives and treasure. 

" With crimson blood the rivers ran, 
And man the sacrifice of man — " 

all about religious doctrines. 

This is a sorrowful but true picture of the wickedness 
and cruelty of throne and pulpit combined ; for no throne 
could exist without the aid of a delusive pulpit, as plenty 
of examples could be got from the Scriptures, for all the 
evil passions of the mind. '^ Fear not those that can kill 
the body, but those that can destroy the soul and body 
in hell.'' '' I come not to save the world, but the pos- 
terity of Israel ;" or such as, "I will give you the keys 
of heaven, so that thou can send to heaven or hell whom 
thou wilt." This and numberless similar impracticabilities, 
and ambiguous inconsistencies, could be stated, that Jesus 
was a knave, as his brothers said of him when he was 
raving such nonsense as '^ eating my flesh and drinking 
my blood, which if ye do, I will raise him up at the last 
day;" which, when his disciples heard such things, they 
all forsook him, and his brethren came to lay hold of him 
and confine him. This is the polluted source from 
whence sprung Christian delusion, wars, hatred, strife, 
division, poverty and degrading ignorance, and for six- 



307 

teen hundred years kept the world from mental or phy- 
sical improvement of body, s^oul or circumstances of 
comfortable life ; and if the world had been left like 
Rome to be taught by the lights of nature, and such of 
their philosophers and other w^ise men, as Confucius, 
Socrates, Seneca, Cato, Plato, and all wise men, who teach 
that the duties of human life are based on moral and 
virtuous actions, and not on sectarian doctrines of fanci- 
ful theories, unsupported by demonstrative or sound 
rational testimony ; not on the doings or sayings of such 
ignorant men as Peter, John or Thomas, or any other 
illiterate, designing fanatics, which have sprung up since 
the cupidity of deceitful men learned to outwit their 
fellows; and if the time and wealth paid to teach delu- 
sive religious doctrines was applied to teach our youths 
scientific knowledge, the use of their faculties in every 
duty of life, they w^ould be wiser and happier than they 
now are, with all the baseless systems of metaphysical 
theology, beneath common sense or reason to counte- 
nance. 

If our revolutionary sires, after their God-bestowed 
energies, perseverance, courage and patriotism, had 
conquered crowned and mitred tyranny, had sat down 
on a constitutional code of laws to govern their new re- 
public, and had been guided by any other light than 
that of philosophical reason, to illume their understaiul- 
ing — in vain did lliey look to the old world for a model, 
and there seen dark, degraded systems of church and 
state combinations of ecclesiastical duplicity and mon- 
archical tyranny, leagued against the freedom and hap- 
piness of all beneath them; the tliione claiming the 



308 



bodies, and the church the souls of their vassals, and 
each the tenth of their labor ; like Joseph, making a 
fortune for himself and his king, Pharaoh, by planning 
an artificial famine— the result was the purchase of the 
whole kingdom of Egypt, and returned it to the pro- 
prietors on conditions that they were to pay to the king- 
twenty per cent, of their annual income — about equal to 
the British claim of ten per cent, to the established 
church, and about the same amount to the government. 
Such is the legal plunder of throne and pulpit when 
combined under a monarchical government ; the pulpit 
plans and prays for the throne and the throne fights and 
plunders for the pulpit ; knowing that neither could 
exist separate— when united they defy the struggles of 
the people — but to our illustrious dead, whose fame can 
never die, although no example for a republican consti- 
tution could be discovered, for this gorgeous new world, 
yet an eye rested on fallen Greece, the cradle of science, 
the mother of refined minds, sense, manners, arts and 
arms ; her land the first garden of liberty's tree, ^' the 
land of the free and the home of the brave;" then cast 
another glance at ancient Rome, the city of the soul, 
the orphan's heart must turn to thee, lone mother of 
dead empires. "Alas, for Tully's voice and Virgil's lay, 
alas, her glory's faded all away." Here our iHustrious 
patriarchs took a retrospective view of where two sunny 
spots once shone as beacon-lights to the world, " but 
what avails it here, alas, for Rome a sigh, for Greece a 
tear." Here our illustrious sages, before they framed a 
constitution for their gorgeous republic, took a glance 
at Bible history, from the earliest pages to the present 



309 



(lay; here the paths of the infant world, and its religi- 
ous altars, were stained with the blood of human sacri- 
fices, caused by superstitious ignorance and the delusion 
preached and practiced up to the present day, from the 
first of the Old to the last of the New Testament ; here 
the wusdom of Greece and the o;od-like sao;es of Rome 
were overshadowed by the splendor of the American 
continental congress, who pledged their lives, their for- 
tunes and honor in behalf of the sacred cause of the free- 
dom of their country ; (once again> hear, ye walls, that 
echoed to the tread of Brutus, we swear eternal freedom 
to our country, and that her sons and daughters shall 
walk w^ith the nobles of our land.) Here is a faint out- 
line of as clear-headed, strong-minded men as Rome or 
Greece ever knew, and admiring ages shall pay homage 
to their virtues, and eternal gratitude, for establishing 
our glorious republic on a solid basis ; and every Ameri- 
can should feel his heart glow with veneration and pride 
of being sprung from from such a god-like ancestry — a 
band of republican sages. 

No system of civil government could be found on 
earth congenial to their new republic, which was meant 
to be an improvement on all former governments, an 
emblem of God's free bounty to all worthy participants. 
Freemen over the earth that wish to become citizens of 
this republic, that rivals all improvements in the essen- 
tial qualities that constitute the happiness of man ; this 
they have most nobly carried out, and from its practical 
operation of nearly a century, showing the utility and 
harmony of their mental labors, answering all tiie in- 
tended wishes and anticipations of their generous souls, 



310 

and the pride and admiration of millions of republican 
men, living under its mild and equitable laws. 

*' The children of their breath who have survived the fall 
Of kings and thrones triumphant over all, 
Into whose hands these earthly trusts are given, 
The boon to man of God's all bounteous heaven, 
That sacred trust, to which you swear to be, 
Transferred in truth, to man's posterity. 
So shall your sons with pride proclaim, 
And venerate your honored name.^' 

Here the charge is supported against the combination 
of throne and pulpit, which if not true, as here stated, 
there is room left for an open appeal to the public; 
yet much stronger proof could be given if necessary. 
We shall now^ proceed to close this subject, by giving a 
more full illustration of the different sciences of physics, 
and metaphysics. 

Physics was the first science learned and taught by 
man, which consists of the laws that govern the natural 
operations of the visible world, embracing all true 
knowledge that man can know ; physical science is the 
expositor of nature, the encyclopedia of the known 
world, and the limits of human action, with the horizon 
of his vision, which extends around the orbit of Herschel, 
the farthest discovered planet in the solar system. 
To this range of knowledge God has limited mortal 
man ; farther than this, man knows nb more than the 
bounds of space, and the eternity of God. 

The nature of the human soul, the probability of its 
immortality, conceived it to be the spiritual essence of 
Deity, from whence it emanated, and to which on the 
dissolution of the body it will again return. 



\ 



;3ii 

'' So when the pure and renovated mind, 

This perishable dust hath left behind, 

Its seraph eye shall count the starry train, 

Like distant isles embosomed in the main, 

^I\apt to the shrine where motion first began, 

And lia:ht and life in mingled torrents ran, 

From whence each bright rotundity was hurl'd. 

The throne of God, the sun, and centre of the world"' — 

the most vivid conception of the soul that has yet been 
given to the world. All speculative knowledge of a 
spiritual world is beyond human conception, and as man 
is a terrestrial being, all his knowledge comes through the 
medium of his bodily senses, which are the inlets to his 
mind, which possess no knowledge whatever, except 
through the medium of the bodily senses ; the mind be- 
ing the mental analyzer of images and things as presented 
to it throuoh the aforesaid bodily senses ; this is the 
limit of all human knowledge on this side of eternity ; 
hence metaphysics, with its offspring, ontology and the- 
ology, all based on ancient mythology, phantoms of dis- 
ordered brains, shadow^s of substances or the imagery of 
chaos. 

This is the view of throne and pulpit, when combined 
in the government of mankind, apparent to all intelligent 
men who read biblical or well-authenticated history of 
the world, from the earliest page to the present day ; 
hence the necessity of every man qualifying himself in 
every branch of scientific knowledge, which is the only 
useful knowledge on this side of the grave ; the wonder- 
ful mechanism of his own body, imbued with the im- 
mortal spirit of infinity to raise himself above all terres- 
trial creatures, and at the dissolution of his body, 



312 

'• Back to i's heavenly source his spirit goes, 
Swift as the comet wheels to whence its rose. 
Doomed on his airy path awhile to burn, 
And doomed like thee, to travel and return. 
And o'er the path by mortals never trod. 
Springs to his source, the bosom of his God." 

Here closes this subject on throne and pulpit; the two 
last lines thereof are' meant to be applied to misty 
metaphysics and all its springs ; theology and its first 
born, mythology, all offsprings of the dark ages of super- 
stition and gross ignorance, and now deluding the world 
at this enlightened day ; and in republican America, 
which ought to be a land of enlightened philosophers, 
statesmen and scholars ; America and Americans ought 
to be beacon-lights to the old superstitious, priest-rid- 
den, brow-beaten slaves of degraded Europe. 

We shall now show what glorious discoveries modern 
philosophers have made since the burning of Gallileo for 
heresy, in attempting to explain the science of astrono- 
my, which his holiness, the pope, ordered the author to 
be burned for sacrilegious blasphemy against the doctrines 
of the New Testament, and his estate as usual confiscated 
to the self-styled Holy See of Rome. Such would be 
the fate of this WTiter under a popish government. 



313- 



A UNIVERSAL SYSTEM OF ETHICS, 

Divested of all sectarian doctrines, based on philosophy^ 
reason and the light of nature^ up to nature^ s God, 

" There's naught around, above, below. 
From seas that roll, to stars that glow, 
But in their image man can see 
The impress of a deity." 

In commencing this subject selected from the sectarian 
doctrines that bewilder a deluded world, it is to be in 
its exposition brief and lucid to the understanding, based 
solely on the philosophical science of nature, which is the 
only true science of God, wrote by his hand in the hea- 
vens above and the earth beneath, so that he that seeth 
may read, understand, worship and adore Infinity ; as 
he that understandeth the science of nature, knoweth 
more of God than all sectarian doctrines ever taught or 
preached from metaphysical theology. 

This system of moral ethics is to be based on the 
clearly demonstrative laws of cause and effect, by which 
God, in the beginning, impressed on all nature for its 
self-government, to work through time in harmonious 
order without supervisionary power or attendance, until 
our globe shall exhaust its ocean, and the absorbing 
laws of nature shall incrust and crystalize the sea and 
tributary fluids into solids; then will our earth be like 
the moon's exhausted planet, destitute of life, still con- 
tinuing as a balance-wheel to keep up the general motion 
27 



314 

of the universe, when all the sister planets are decayed, 
when the sun, the mighty sun, the first born of the solar 
system, shall close his beaming eye, and cast his pall of 
darkness over a dead creation. 

You may think this a singular introduction to a new 
system of moral ethics, but the elementary principles of 
demonstrative cause and effect is essential knowledge to 
every branch of business, whether political, social, or 
religious, and the only reliable basis for favorable results; 
therefore, all our actions spring from the mind ; the bet- 
ter our mind is qualified to understand it, the more 
favorable will be the result in every practical operation 
of life. Religion seems to be a general belief of increas- 
ing our happiness in this life, and a belief in a happier 
life in eternity ; and whatever we value the most, that 
absorbs the most of our attention ; and strange, but true 
to state, there are hundreds of religious systems and 
modes of worship and not two alike ; nor is there one in 
the whole who can clearly explain on what principle of 
truthful testimony their system is based. Some think 
external performance of church worship ; some sing- 
ing, praying, and confessing their sins; some implicit 
faith in their own creed ; some in fore-ordination ; some 
in accidental faith ; some in the chance construction of 
the head, whereby the propensity of desire overrules 
reason, thus destroying free agency and accountability. 
This may suflSce to show the chameleon hues of fanciful 
religion, the shadows of confusion, which have saturated 
the earth with blood since time began, and warring like 
maniacs for words without meaning. This is scriptural 
religion of Old and New Testament ; this is both ancient 



315 

and modern theology, the agitator of the moral world. 
As this subject on moral ethics is to be brief, the intro- 
duction should be more luminous and explanatory, as all 
former systems of ancient and modern ethics are mingled 
with theological hypothesis, destitute of demonstrative 
cause and effect, merely speculative surmise, not to be 
admitted as testimony in any case, yet the decalogue is 
in many points compiled from strict observations of cause 
and effect. 

In vain do we trace the pages of the world for a par- 
allel to our god-like sages of the Revolution. Moses 
liberated his countrymen, to conquer other nations and 
subdue them to bondage. Alexander, the young maniac, 
conquered the world and divided it among his generals. 
England wanted to conquer America, and divide it into 
princedoms and dukedoms, all not of their grade to be 
hewers of wood and drawers of water ; — a goodly land, 
far exceeding the fair fields and bowers of Canaan. Far 
otherwise did those god-like men set down to divide the 
spoils of conquest amongst each other, and seeing no 
model government on earth to make men happy, devised 
the plan of government for their republic, equal in gene- 
rous equity and bounty to God's government of the 
world ; an asylum for the oppressed freemen of monar- 
chical governments of their own caste, slavery being 
entailed on them by the monarchical government of their 
parent country ; but the good sense of the world has 
decreed that parental authority shall cease with the 
mature age of twenty-one, otherwise parents could be- 
come tyrants, like the British with the Americans, 
farther than the pirent who does his duty in raising his 



316 

children in a proper manner, by giving them sufficient 
moral and intellectual education to guide them in the 
honorable paths of life, his bounden duty to his offspring 
is done ; then the duties, and comforts, and self-respect 
for declining age should be attended to, the neglect of 
which is often deplorable in parents, exhausting the en- 
ergies of their life in accumulating wealth for heirs to 
spend foolishly, leaving age in penury. 

We shall now close these preliminary remarks, and 
commence on this new embodiment of moral ethics, 
which is to be solely based, like other branches of true 
demonstrative science, on cause and effect, by which 
the operations of nature are produced, commencing with 
the philosophical principle of reasoning ; thus, if there 
ever had been a period in eternity where nothing did 
exist but empty chaos, from which nothing could possibly 
have existed, therefore, we are constrained to believe in 
an eternal existing cause of all causes, which we call 
God, but know" nothing more of Him than through the 
works of His creation. Here again, in our first step in 
the belief of existing things, reason reels on her throne 
at the majesty of her subject ; here a part of the world 
believes that one Eternal Being created all subsequent 
beings and things, the other part believing in the princi- 
ples of eternal existence of all things, subject to natural 
progression and transformation ; here the beam stands in 
equal poise, without preponderance in either scale ; the 
latter believing in the eternity of matter and spirit con- 
jointly. This sect are called materialists, and consider 
worship and prayer inefifectual, as millions of the most 
enlightened philosophers do at the jpresent day ; philo- 



317 

sophy only teaching what man can know. These are 
the most numerous, teaching and bewildering their 
votaries with fables, and miracles, and false doctrines, 
repugnant to science, sense or reason ; thus contracting 
the aspiring mind for useful knowledge into a sectarian 
orbit, like Samson in the tread-mill of the Philistines. 

Here is given in a few lines all that man knows of 
God, or mortal can know ; constituted as he is, limited 
to this globe of earth, in a point, in the immensity of 
space, all that he knows or can know, comes through 
the orbit of his vision. 

Theology has wrote millions of books, and preached 
thousands of millions of sermons to explain the incom- 
prehensible external existence, and yet know no more 
of what they teach or preach than Adam, when he 
first opened his eyes into life. This is as far as human 
thought can reach, or reason explore on the existence of 
God. This is the first step we have made in the belief 
that the universal world is a self-evident axiom of truth 
that something did always exist that we call God, 
whether it be a creative principle, or a living spirit with 
creative powers. Here on the first step of the threshold 
of Deity, man divides in sentiment ; here the learned 
world stands abashed at the majesty of the subject, one 
party holding the belief that the Deity copsists in one 
eternal living creative spirit, that created all things that 
exist, and is entitled to worship, adoration and praise; 
the other party that Deity consists in an eternal organ- 
izing principle, subject to gradual progression and trans- 
formation from self-existing elements. Only this far 
can man penetrate the secrets of infinity, and if, as he 
27*^ 



318 

might, have consulted his reasoning powers, it would 
have taught him that finite man can never comprehend 
infinity, and that all his knowledge is confined to the 
orbit of his observation and experience as represented to 
him through the medium of his senses ; so the most 
valuable knowledge that man can know is to know him- 
self, his capacity of mind can be known, and cannot he 
then be considered as possessing all human knowledge ; 
as the philosopher wisely says, we ought to study the 
truth of things and not the notions of things. 

If man had exercised his reasoning powers to discover 
the second step to a universal belief that Deity was a 
self-existing principle, omnipresent and omniscient, with- 
out reference to speculative opinions how existing things 
came into existence, whether they always existed, or 
whether some external power subsequently created them 
is beyond human conception ; we discover numbers of 
things, that appears could no otherwise be than increate, 
such as motion, the elements of science, leading-lines to 
the knowledge of existing things, space, eternity, God. 
We read of uncreated angels, co-existent with God, and 
satan and his angels claimed self-existence, being second- 
ary to no existing power. It is yet thought necessary 
to state to the reader the attributes of Deity, w^hich is to 
be held up as an imitation example for man to copy 
after, a standard of human action and rectitude. The 
attributes of Deity embraces all the virtues that human 
mind can conceive, in the highest degree of perfection 
and purity, too numerous to state more than a few prin- 
ciples. 

First. God is considered to be the supreme architect 



319 

and creator of the universe ; that he is omniscient and 
infinite in knowledge; omnipresent by his essence in and 
through all created things, from the mighty sun, the 
centre of our world, down to the rolling billows of the 
ocean, the towering trees of our forests, the flowers of 
our gardens and the grass beneath, 

" One all-extending, all-pervading soul, 
Connects each being next, and next the whole, 
The chain holds on, and where it ends — unknown.^' 

Here the attention of the reader is requested to the fol- 
lowing statement, which the world should be interested 
in, so that designing men may not impose on them no- 
tions of their own visionary conception, and close the 
outline of human knowledge from secondary causes and 
effects of nature to the great unknown first cause of all 
causes ; here is the only source from which man ever 
has or ever can know anything of God. 

Thus having stated what man generally considers to 
be God ; his attributes, qualities and virtues as the only 
true criterion and example for man to imitate, a lead- 
ing-line to happiness in time and eternity — this standard 
only leads in one path to God — no jarring creeds or 
doctrines to lead the world into confusion and strife, but 
the index of God, pointing with his silent finger to him- 
self; this is the silent index, when man has good sense 
to acknowledge and understand it, which will lead the 
universal world of mankind to happiness here and here- 
after ; yet a brief summary of practical duties, explana- 
tary to the whole, is hefe to be given. 

First. All intelligent men acknowledge a being we 



320 

call God possessing all the good and great qualities the 
mind can conceive, such as wisdom, greatness, goodness, 
justice, truth, mercy, love, sincerity, virtue, purity, be- 
nevolence, holiness, with every other pleasing emotion 
our mind can conceive or comprehend. 

We further refer the reader to a more infallible stand- 
ard than human judgment, WTote by the hand of Deity, 
in the heavens above, and the earth beneath, as an index 
pointing to his infallible attributes, which we are con- 
strained to believe he posseses, and those who imitate 
the practice of those divine virtues, will train their souls 
for the pure joys of heaven ; therefore rejoice in your 
being, doubt not, fear not, God will deal righteously 
with all those who endeaver to practice the aforesaid 
virtues to make them happy in time, preparative for the 
happy joys of eternity. 

Here w^e close on moral ethics, giving two codes com- 
posed by the best sense of righteous men, this last the 
unerring ethics of God, one creed, one heaven, one indi- 
visible God for the souls of mankind ; this is the only 
true standard of moral ethics. 



321 



FAITH, 

Based on demonstrative or rational testimony, entitled 

to full credit; but Faith destitute of demonstrative 

or rational testimony, not entitled to credit. 

This subject on faith, is to be discussed in the above 
two heads, commencing with an illustration of what 
faith is generally understood to be. Faith is considered 
a principle belief in the truth of a favorite system of 
religion and worship, as taught by a sectarian preacher, 
whose interest and duty is to represent in the strongest 
light to the understanding of his converts ; each denomi- 
nation having a constitution embracing the practice and 
theory of their system, similar to codes of law or consti- 
tutional forms of government; these various systems, all 
requiring an expositor to explain the true contents of 
their systems ; and what is more strange, the converts 
most generally subscribe to their faith whether it be true 
or false, and adopt it as a fanciful motive, although they 
are told that their fiiith in a full belief of their system is 
the only means of their future salvation. 

It would extend the limits of this work beyond its in- 
tended bounds, to illustrate the various ways that teachers 
of sectarian doctrines induce a belief in the minds of 
thoughtless people of the truth of their systems, and that 
it appears there is scaice one deep student of nature, 
who has critically and impartially examined the glaring 



322 

element of the bewildering dogmas of religion, although 
all based on speculative theory, devised by artful men 
for the sole purpose of aggrandizement of power and 
prerogative, since the days of Cain and Abel, through 
all its phases — heathen mythology, metaphysics, onto- 
logy, metempsychosis, from which four original systems 
is transposed a new combination, called Christian theo- 
logy, taught in colleges of different denominations, to 
suit the tastes of all — as no two sects can agree on one 
translation — each selects from the grand emporium such 
as suits his favorite notions, around w^hich each w^orship 
in their own contracted system of Babel doctrines, all in- 
consistent, contradictory and at variance w^ith each other, 
generally agreeing on one point — that of carrying out 
the grand mercantile speculation under the guise of reli- 
gious sanctity. This w^as the commencement of all new 
systems of religion, from the time man first conceived an 
idea of outwitting his fellow. 

The writer has thoughtfully and critically analyzed 
Biole history, from the first of Genesis to the latter end 
of Malachi, and found nothing throughout the w^hole 
book but deception, trick and fraud in kings, priests and 
prophets, all deluders of the thoughtless millions of their 
fellow creatures — more intent on keeping them in ignor- 
ance than enlightening their understanding — which w' ould 
operate against their own interest ; therefore, as all 
teachers are interested in their own systems, true or 
false, so long as they can get paid for teaching it they 
will never undeceive the deceived ; as the countersign 
of the priests is, enlighten the minds of the people and 
shut your purses — meaning, if they know as much as we 



323 

do, our occupation would be ruined — so that if ever 
the world is to be enlightened, it will be only through 
the good sense and education of the comnnon masses of 
people. 

Let every father educate his children, more especially 
his sons, at least in the rudiments of a sound English 
education, from thence he can exercise the faculties of 
their minds to understand all the essential knowledge 
requisite for their own happiness and prosperity in life ; 
and be better prepared with intellectual knowledge to 
relish the higher enjoyments of eternity. Recollect you 
are a free agent to choose good or evil ; the former for 
your happiness, the latter for your misery ; therefore 
every son and daughter of America ought to be, and can 
be an educated person. What is the block of marble 
before the artist forms it into life, shape and features, 
with the expression of intellectual head and face ; the 
type of the mind it represents in the image, or what is 
the shapeless trunk of a tree before the carver brings out 
its just proportions, figure, form and lineament of the 
figure-head of Neptune, and what is savage man but the 
external image without the internal faculties of a well- 
informed mind. These three similitudes may suffice to 
show the difference of the mind of man in a state of 
nature, and a man whose mind is improved to the highest 
state of perfection, one with intellect to govern the world, 
the other to trundle a wheelbarrow. 

Education may be compared to a mariner's compass, 
by which index the pilot steers his proud ship through 
the troubled ocean safe to the haven of safety ; a pilot 
w^ithout a chart or compass to guide his ship through the 



324 

irackless ocean, is veered about by every changing blast 
of wind, subject to chance, in not knowing how to steer 
or where to land. Alas, for the millions of mankind, 
cast on the world without guide, guard, education, home 
or prospects, to cheer their dreary path through life, only 

*' To know delight but by her parting smile, 
And toil, and wish, and weep a little while. 
Then melt, ye elements, that formed in vain 
This troubled pulse and visionary brain ; 
Then fade ye flowers, memorials of our doom, 
Dark as the star that sinks us to the tomb.'^ 

This is a melancholy but true picture of the old world, 
where the wealthy and extravagant government, toge- 
ther with the high church tithes and popish priests, take 
at least two-thirds of the poor laborer's earnings, leaving 
him scarce sufficient to exist upon the poorest kind of 
food — nothing for old age or education of their offspring, 
thus binding their children out as soon as they are able 
to do anything, and has to work to age without pay, so 
that the parents and children have to support the rich, 
like the large fish living on the small ones ; but this 
lamentable state of things is not to be attributed to 
God, but the cupidity of the rich and powerful over the 
weak and powerless, and will always continue until the 
lower classes of the people get better educated ; to know 
and vindicate their rights, which the blighting influence 
of popery is the most grinding and grievous curse on the 
Catholic peasantry, it being a perfect lock on their in- 
tellect and energies — an incubus, benumbing the world. 

Dissenters from popery call to their fellow men ; come 
out of her, my people, and be not partakers of her deadly 



325 

sins, that appeal to heaven for redress. William Hogan, 
a dissenting priest, states that popery is the most immoral 
system of religion on earth, polluter of lovely woman and 
brutalizer of degraded man ; and is the embodiment of 
every vice and opposed to every virtue, and should be 
considered the curse of earth and the abomination of 
righteous heaven. 

Here we close on the subject of faith in religious creeds, 
and find them all more or less destitute of sound sense, 
reason or philosophic science ; all based on ancient su- 
perstitious mythology, dressed up in a new fanciful garb 
and name, destitute of satisfactory proof to support their 
bewildering dogmas of w^orship and prayer, to an eternal 
unchangeable God, infinite in wisdom, holiness, goodness, 
justice, truth and mercy, the supreme architect of the 
universe and soul of all existence ; the practice of whose 
attributes would simply lead mortals to happiness here 
and in eternity. Moral duties and not external formalities 
is what God requires of his creatures to make them happy 
here, preparatory to a happy eternity. 

'' Cease every joy to glimmer on my mind, 
But leave, oh leave, a hope of heaven behind. 
What though my winged hours of bliss have been, 
Like angels' visits, few and far between ; 
Her musing mood shall every pang appease, 
And charm when pleasure lose the power to please." 



28 



326 



MAN^S OMISSION OF DUTY, 

In not educating his daughters in the important duties 
of Wives and Mothers, 

It is with deference that the writer undertakes to 
explain his views on the necessary qualifications and 
susceptibilities of the female mind ; the design and pur- 
pose she was created for ; her proper sphere and action 
of life ; her rights and dignities of a maid, a wife and 
mother. She has to pass through these phases in be- 
coming a mother. Each of these periods of woman 
requires the assiduous guardianship of man. The juve- 
nile season being the season to plant the seeds of virtue, 
in becoming a creditable member of society — that of a 
wife and mother, — which endears a woman stronger in 
the affections of a husband, and society in general. 
Nothing is more pleasant to the intelligent mind and eye 
than a lovely mother wdth her babe in her arms ; it is a 
passport of respect to her in all companies. A virtuous 
wife is a crown of joy to her husband, — heaven's last, 
crowning bliss to man. A young virtuous wife, of con- 
genial quality of mind, is the only source of happiness 
on earth, she being the choice of his youthful hopes, and 
companion of his youthful endeavors, through life, the 
solace of his declining years, generally the mother of a 
happy family ; therefore, there is nothing which gives 
such enjoyment as the management of his table, with 



327 

the delicacies and comforts of life served up by the hand 
he loves, a boon of Heaven to be duly appreciated by 
man with the sharer of his joys and happiness. 

Diversified opinions exist, even among enlightened 
nations of men, respecting the capacity of the female 
mind for literature, of what kind, and how far their minds 
are capable of receiving it. Surely, as nature has 
formed their bodies different from man, their intellectual 
susceptibilities are duly proportioned to the sphere of 
life they were created for. Several branches of know- 
ledge feminine delicacy does not fit them for ; certainly 
not the deep intricacies of geometric science, military 
tactics, anatomy, surgery, w^ith other exercises of mind 
and body. Female qualifications, too, much depend on 
man's fancy, external accomplishments, superficial po- 
liteness, more gaudy than wise: these are such as Solo- 
mon selected as pleasure birdsto pass judgment on the sex ; 
he being the preceptor and exemplar, then, to the senseless 
world, required of youth and innocence the maturity of riper 
judgment. Solomon's unwise censure ought to be razed 
from the fairest portion of God's creation. We might 
as well attribute wisdom to school-boys, at this enlight- 
ened day, as mature judgment to the juvenile world. 
What rational judgment did he show in improving his 
nation of people ? In politics and religion his observa- 
tions were extensive, but his reasoning and reflecting 
powers were weak ; his precepts and cautions were good, 
but he destroyed their good effects by their pernicious 
example, humiliating women and then reviling their 
w^eakness. Although his known popularity for wisdom 
swayed all things into compliance to his will, what 



328 

power had juvenile innocence to guard against his de- 
sires, when the people worshiped him as God and their 
king ? The judgments of Solomon, at this enlightened 
day, would be considered as a libel against women. All 
sensible writers on female education hold that nature 
has designed woman for domestic duties in preference to 
laborious out-door transactions, which more properly 
belong to man, as he stands accountable for the super- 
vision and support of his household, and if man cannot 
well do it, it is out of woman's power. 

The education,* as well as the natural design of man, 
gives him priority of mental and physical strength, and 
improves in knowledge through life, whereas w^oman's 
education must all be done before marriageable age, 
when the natural desire of becoming wives and mothers 
absorbs the mind ; but man, generally, has to qualify 
himself in some business to support a family, before he 
marries, which is generally five or six years after age, 
and whose longer experience gives him the preference in 
all his domestic affairs; therefore, if any w'oman at- 
tempts to oppose this just and wise procedure, she op- 
poses the interest, honor, and duty of a wife and family. 

There is no one standard of female education to suit 
all circumstances. Refined life generally requires a full 
classic course in our high seminaries ; this being too 
expensive for common people, such as the greatest body 
of the industrious community in the United States, 
which ought and can afford to be better educated and 
happier than any people on earth, with the mildest equi- 
table government under Heaven, it being a government 
of the united good sense of the nation ; it is a govern- 



329 

ment in imitation of God's free bounty, plenty, peace 
and happiness to all ; and as our political institutions 
are on a revised plan, and the beauty is, if we find an 
error, we possess the means to correct it. 

Our school system is not as good and wise as it might 
be, more particularly the education of our daughters, 
qualifying them for wives and mothers, to teach their 
own daughters what they were taught. It would be 
the most dignified, delightful and honored task that 
mothers could be engaged in. Every sensible young 
man has a strong desire to know the parents of his in- 
tended, so that he may know if she possesses the pleas- 
ing virtues he could love in a wife. A few generations 
would be sufficient for a self-teaching school in every 
family : then, as the poet says, 



Would the reign of mind begin on earth, 

And springing up, as from a second birth, 
Woman ! the glory of the world's new spring, 
Would walk, regenerate, like some holy thing. 

Here, we shall close this subject with a republican 
system of self-education of mothers to their daughters 
at home, a more holy, consecrated place for daughters, 
than female seminaries, where female innocence and 
virtue, especially in Catholic seminaries, where assigna- 
tion and intrigue are known to exist, and where sin and 
deceit is cloaked under the garb of religious sanctity. 
Beware of the insiduous wiles of popery, the curse of 
the earth and the abomination of Heaven, the supporter 
of vice, and the destroyer of virtue, and the banc of 
republicanism, 

28* 



330 

First, after infant education is accomplished, which c^n 
be done between the age of four and six years, a home 
education should begin, according to a well-digested plan 
of mother-education, she being competent to the task of 
requiring due attention to the practices throughout, 
w^ith a sufficient number of the best selection of moral 
writers on intellectual knowledge, on the diversified 
subject of the dignity of human nature, the laws of 
mind and matter, sufficient to a general conception of 
all the duties of a wife and mother ; the accountability 
of human action to the laws of God and man ; practi- 
cal duties being more congenial to her gentle nature, 
than the perplexing elements, more fit for man to encoun- 
ter, than mothers, whose mind and body both, should 
be kept as serene and tranquil as possible through her 
trying scenes of a diversified life of cares and duties. 

It may be thought by some that this would impose a 
heavy task on mothers, but far from this would be the 
case, by removing the heavy toil of the house into 
other hands more able and willing to perform it. Thus, 
in both a pecuniary and creditable point of view would 
it dignify woman in the estimation of man, conferring on 
her three of the most endearing dignities of life, a wife, 
a mother, and instructress. Then should we hear less 
of the thoughtless slang of boyhood about the weak- 
ness of female minds, when educated by a virtuous 
mother ; strengthening their minds, in dignity of soul, 
above the insolence of low breeding. Therefore all our 
republican institutions should be based on progressive 
improvement, nor stop until we arrive at a point of per- 
fection. No institution, political, religious, or civil, 



331 

should bind the mind from free and open conviction ; all 
others are a lock on the understanding, like the laws of 
the Medes and Persians, which are not to be altered or 
changed. Monarchy holds the body in degraded sla- 
very. Ecclesiastic delusion holds the mental powers of 
both body and soul in degraded servitude, of probably 
nine-tenths of the population of the world. Throne and 
pulpit is, and ever was combined against the peace and 
happiness of the world, and the writer refers to the gene- 
ral history of the world for this fact. If this superstitious 
delusion is not checked in republican America, it may, 
as it has done in the old world, gain the ascendency here 
in this happy republic. Man has a right to speak and 
expose false doctrines ; teachers and preachers support 
right and oppose wrong, to be just, and vindicate the 
way of God to man, whose ways are only comprehended 
in the science of nature, the phenomenon of the visible 
world, the law of matter, mind and motion, and causes 
and effects of visible things. 

It is estimated that there are one thousand millions of 
mortals over the world, which considering holy days, 
feasts, fasts and lost time, may be considered no less 
than four dollars per head annually, exclusive of the 
expense of marriages, funerals, bread and wine for sac- 
raments and marriage frolics. We read that at a mar- 
riage in Canaan in Gallilee, Jesus set the example of 
making wine sufficient to make one thousand people 
drunk, which pernicious example is practiced over the 
Christian world to this day — Quakers excepted — who, 
in this, as in many other cases, save their credit, money 
and sober senses by the most rational, modest and decent 



332 

manner of the contracting parties, standing up openly in 
their assemblies expressing a desire to come into the 
bonds of marriage, similar to Isaac and Rebecca: ^^And 
Isaac took Rebecca into his tent and she became his 
wife, and he loved her, and was happy. '^ This prime- 
val mode of marriage is decidedly preferable to the long 
ministerial formalities of church customs. Quakers^ more 
wisely than all other Christian sects, instead of making 
a drunken frolic of marriage, keep their money, their 
credit and their senses ; things of the greatest import- 
ance in life. They are their own teachers, preachers 
and exemplars, and are the most independent people on 
earth ; chiefly performing their actions more by the 
direction of reason than fancy or fashion ; and take them 
as a body, are the most orderly and thoughtful ; they 
think more of comfort than of splendor in their mode of 
living, and generally supply their own wants by their 
economy, and pay little for luxuries in fashionable dress, 
houses, furniture, manners or religion, which they have 
divested of all tawdry appendages, external and internal, 
thus making religion to consist in the practical duties 
and moral principles of social life, in just preference to 
bewildering: doctrines which distract and divide other 
sects. Quaker principles, in the estimation of sensible 
men, will never become obsolete, although divided in the 
worship of one indivisible God ; the Orthodox adhering 
to the trinitarian God-head, of Father, Son and Holy 
Ghost. 

Closing with the following gem of poetry — 

" Gem of the crimson-colored ev'n, 
Companion of retiring day. 



333 

Why at the closing ojates of heaven, 
Beloved star, dost thou delay ? 

*' So fair thy pensive beauty burn. 

When soft the tear of tw^ilight flows, 
So do thy plighted steps return, 

To mansions brighter than the rose. 

" To peace, to pleasure and to love, 
So kind a star thou seem'st to be, 
Sure sonae enannored orb above 
Descends, and burns to meet vi'ith thee.'' 



334 



ON THE RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD 

In reuniting soul and body. 

This, like all theological speculations, has neither 
demonstrative, rational or probable testimony to support 
its truth. The first idea of the human soul was taken 
from the Mosaic account, which was taken from a more 
ancient and rational writer. Moses states that God 
created all nature prior to that of man ; that in the 
creation of man God exerted his mightiest energy, the 
mundane systems of the universe being insentient masses 
of matter, solely operated by infinite laws, impressed in 
them at their creation as' a self-governing principle 
throughout their existence ; but man, the type of his 
creator, endowed with external and internal faculties of 
body and mind, supremely above all created beings, as 
sublunary lord of the lower world. 

When God created our first parent and formed him in 
the maturity of manhood, wdth perceptive qualities to 
know his dignified station, as semi-deity, to govern the 
lower world — here the inanimate body of Adam lay 
fully formed and infinitely finished with transcendent 
skill, until God breathed in him and he became a living 
soul. This is the only knowledge we have of man's 
having a soul, w^hich appears so ambiguous in what 
sense to understand it, whether meant in any other view 
than where the living spirit leaves the body, the body 
dies, as it appears neither a living soul or spirit can 



335 

exist, except in an organized body, as essential to mu- 
tual action on each other, the faculties of the body act- 
ing on the mind, the mind reacting by impulse on the 
body, thus producing a perfect harmony in the combi- 
nation of matter and spirit, or soul, as may be ; action 
and reaction being the grand operative principles 
throughout nature, mental, moral and physical. Plato's 
soliloquy on the eternal existence of the soul, may have 
some weight in the mental scale, who ^reason thus: stat- 
ing the intellectuality of the mind to be the soul, that 
Infinite Wisdom has made all intellectual beings in 
a state of progressive knowledge from the cradle to the 
grave; that this infant state was merely an initiatory 
state of existence, preparatory to a higher state of intel- 
lectual knowledge and a larger field of happiness, pro- 
gressing by degrees, but never ascending to the perfec- 
tion of deity — like those geometric lines, that can be 
drawn from a centre to endless lengths, continually 
closing by gradual progress, but never coming in con- 
tact at their endless points, such as philosophy proposes 
the gradual progresssion of the soul through eternity, 
without ever attaining to infinity. 

In the early periods of the world, when man, includ- 
ing priests and prophets, had no rational idea of a God 
or his divine attributes, attributed to him their own good 
or evil propensities, teaching that God created good and 
created evil, that man being created by God with these 
propensities, practiced good or evil as interest or incli- 
nation suggested, therefore acting on this belief that the 
practice of good and evil was justifiable, as in the spoil 
or massacre of a city or nation of people, which was a 



336 

good for the conquerors, and evil for the conquered ; as 
in such a case, when Moses, like our present Christian 
popes, assumed vice-regency of God on earth, sent his 
conquering army of robbers to exterminate the kingdoms 
of the Midianites, with this order to the leader of his 
banditti: ^' Now kill every male, from the cradle to the 
grave, and every mother and her little ones, but take 
alive the young virgin maidens for yourselves." 

This murdering*army of twelve thousand men, stole a 
march on this defenceless nation, and five kings and 
kingdoms unresistingly slaughtered, their cities sacked, 
towns, dwellings, and goodly castles burned. This 
massacreing army was led by Phineas the son of Eleazer 
the high priest, who returned with his slaughtering 
army without the loss of a man ; the priest blowing 
aloud his so-called holy trumpet, to excite his warriors 
during the slaughter, and drown the screams of mothers 
and infants. (O, God !) 

The following is the amount of spoil brought home, 
as an oblation to the Lord and the people : the people's 
share was six hundred and seventy thousand sheep, 
seventy-two thousand beeves, sixty-one thousand asses, 
thirty-two thousand virgin maidens, sixteen thousand 
seven hundred and fifty shekels of gold chains, bracelets, 
ear-rings, jewels and tablets. The Lord's share of all 
the spoils w^as thirty-tw^o virgin maidens, sixty-one asses, 
seventy-two beeves, six hundred and seventy-five sheep, 
which were taken in charge by Moses and Eleazer, the 
self-styled high priest of God. 

If there could be any rational inference drawn from 
such maniacal language as, ^^ Fear not those who kill 



337 

the body, but those who could cast soul and body into 
hell ;'^ so that the soul and body are to be united in either 
heaven or hell, yet being asked where the kingdom of 
heaven was, Jesus replied, " It is not either here or 
there, but within you ;'' so man carries the kingdom of God 
about with him, having no location in eternity, and if 
so, soul and body only exist in this life, and that the 
soul is but the spirit of life ; both transient as all other 
animal or vegetable life — renovation and decay being 
the order of terrestrial things — the seasons give birth to 
its millions annually; the sea, like a thing of life, inhales 
and exhales a breathing tide of life, and brings forth from 
its womb a variety of life ; the moon waxes and w^anes ; 
our earthly planet rolls annually around its central 
lurhinary, bringing day and night in its daily revolu- 
tions ; the moon, its attendant, rolls round its revolutions 
within the circuit of the earth — all things are in motion. 

Life, motion, space, the elements of science, are all in- 
create, co-external, co-existent elements of Deity ; the 
naturalists worship our attributes of deity, as Deity ; we 
w^orship Deity as a threefold being. Father, Son and 
Holy Ghost ; the Jews and Mohammedans worship one 
indivisible God ; the Ephesians worshiped their unknown 
God, through their idol Diana ; the materialists worship 
the universe as their universal deity ; man has worshiped 
every imagination he could invent, to raise himself above 
his fellow and make himself an easy living, by teaching 
his bewildered votaries. 

llavino; in vain souj^ht for a solution of the resurrec- 
tion from the dead, and found it like all metaphysical 
speculations, without rational proof, being like the whole 
29 



338 

system it sprung from. Jesus, when stating to the mul- 
titude that he was the resurrection, was considered by 
his brother a maniac. 

Man knows nothing about what his soul is, or whe- 
ther it exists after he dies, or like the tree when fallen, 
its vegetable spirit passes into new bodies, and human 
souls, like the comet cast from the sun, awhile to burn, 
and like it, wander and return into the shoreless ocean 
of Deity like the gun^s last flash, when life is o'er, and 
to death and silence sink to rise no more. This is all 
that can be rationally or philosophically known on the 
resurrection of the body or the eternity of the soul; 
therefore let us not be discouraged by such dubious 
views of the subject ; if the soul after leaving the body 
passes again into the essence of Deity, as it is the general 
wish, let us wish and work to merit a union with infinity, 
trusting his wisdom and goodness for a final and happy 
result. 

*' Cease every joy to glimmer in my mind. 
But leave, oh leave a hope of heaven behind. 
What though my w^inged hours of bliss have been, 
Like angels' visits, few and far between ; 
Her musing mood shall every pang appease. 
And charm, when pleasure lose the power to please. 
When cold in dust, this perished heart may lie, 
The spark which warmed it once will never die. 
This spark, unburied in its mortal frame, 
With living light, eternal and the same, 
Shall beam on joys, interminable years, 
Unveiled by darkness, unassuaged by tears.'^ 



339 



LUTHERAN REFORMATION. 

The Lutheran Reformation cutting down a rotten limb, 
instead of the whole corrupt tree of Popery, 

To give a clear description of this subject requires a 
commencement at its beginning, or the source from 
whence it sprung. If the fountain was pure, the stream 
flowing from it would likewise be pure ; but if turbid 
and corrupt, would in a great degree partake of its im- 
purity. A corrupt church, allied to a corrupt govern- 
ment, always makes a corrupt people ; therefore, to 
make a thorough reform, the errors of the primitive 
church should, like our political constitution, undergo 
an impartial and scrutinizing analyzation, and if found 
to be based on a deceptive foundation, should, like the 
inquisition in Spain, and the bastile in France, be razed 
to its foundation, and free the world from bondage. 

If the venerated sages of the American Revolution, 
after they had achieved their independence, had re- 
modeled monarchy to suit their own agrandizement, 
(like John Adams, a black sheep in the fold,) which 
they could have done, but their generous souls loathed 
dishonored tyrants, sat themselves down like a conclave 
of earthly gods, took a mental view of all the former 
governments on earth, beginning with patriarchal, 
hierarchal, judicial and monarchical, and found them all 
deceptive and deficient to the happiness and prosperity 



340 

of man ; then cast a mental glance at Greece, the god- 
dess of refinement, and the cradle of liberty, heaved a 
sigh for its departed glories ; passed on to Rome, the 
city of the soul, and like Byron, shed a tear for the de- 
parted glory of the empress of the world, now degraded 
to the lowest depths of infamy by Christian popery ; 
then, seeing no model on earth, wisely turned to devise 
a government in imitation of God's government of the 
universe, encircling in its embrace the happiness of the 
w^orld, with free and equal rights and privileges to all 
free citizens. Farther they could not consistently go ; 
having no powder to abolish slavery, they wisely left it 
to the good sense of posterity to gradually remove ne- 
groes and negro slavery from the country. 

Reformation, it appears, can be made in all things 
except religion ; one shrewed knave like Simon Peter 
or Joe Smith the Mormon, can get fools enough to make 
a party, and teach a new doctrine, without inquiring its 
meaning or merits, or the mind and motives of the 
teacher, having little regard as to the truth or falsity of 
the system, but adopt it like the fleeting fashions of the 
day; this in the fifty-ninth century of the world, and in 
the most enlightened part of it, is degrading to every 
intelligent mind. The delinquency of his fellow man, 
although they all possess faculties for learning know- 
ledge, if they would exercise their minds to obtain it, 
but they appear content with the secular and general 
knowledge of their private affairs, whereas, in this re- 
public, where they hold the reins of government in their 
own hands, they should be well educated to know their 
duty to themselves and their country, more especially as 



341 

our free republic is drawing the eyes of the world to- 
wards it, as an intellectual model government for the 
deluded victims of monarchy. 

Here, reader, is a proud position you are placed in. 
God has given you means and faculties to make you 
both wise and happy, only requiring the healthy exer- 
cise of mind in the dignified study of the science of 
nature, which only teaches reliable truths. Man, being 
a terrestrial creature, can possess no reliable truths of 
celestial things ; all his knowledge being limited to the 
sphere of his vision, and experimental knowledge of the 
natural world and the canopy of its heavens, as spread 
over his head, not exceeding the limited orbit of Her- 
schel wheeling his mighty orb around the periphery of 
our solar system. 

Man's true knowledge only comes after he has obtained 
the rudiments of his juvenile education : books of history, 
written by creditable authors, natural philosophy, mental 
and moral sciences, apart from metaphysical theology, 
(bewildering but not enlightening the understanding,) 
and its religious dogmas, a chaos of clashing systems, 
a stumbling block of dissension, cupidity and hypocrisy, 
fomenting wars and contention over the bewildered 
world since time began, an ignis-fatuus, whose momen- 
tary gleams, lead the benighted traveler into doubts 
and difficulties, astray from the true light of science, 
the lights of nature, which are the only true lights of 
God, and the only true path to know God. He that 
knows the science of nature, knows more of God than 
all that metaphysics, theology, priests or prophets ever 
29* 



342 

told, or taught from their jarring pulpits, or mitred con- 
claves, or conceived in their ambiguous souls. 

Here, from these brief preliminary observations on 
this exciting subject of the Lutheran Reformation, we 
commence on the origin of Christianity and its antitype 
Popery, it being the basis, sum and substance of origi- 
nal Christianity, embodying every lineament of example 
and practice taught by their founder, Jesus of Nazareth, 
(styled '' King of the Jews,^') his disciples, apostles, 
and converts^ to their delusive creed, which will be 
made to appear as conceived in sin, nurtured in duplicity, 
and baptized in blood. This may appear a startling 
charge to bring against a religion taught and practiced 
upon eighteen hundred years, under the threatening 
dread of extermination with fire, sword, torture, and 
confiscation of property, together with the anathemas of 
the church, unto the eternal pains of hell forever, on 
those who would dare to recant or expose their insidu- 
ous system, the curse of earth and the abomination of 
heaven, the annihilator of all virtue, and perpetrator of 
all crime, the insiduous transposer of virtue into vice, 
and vice into virtue, thus making the laws of God and 
man subservient to the commission of crimes of the 
deepest dye; making casual exigencies the standard of 
action, thus justifying any crime that expediency might 
require to be done, and, by mental reservation, conceal 
the crime ; and fornication and adultery be no sin in 
their priests, who have power to forgive all sins ; as- 
suming supernatural power over the invariable laws of 
nature, with power over the souls and bodies of their 
votaries. This is merely a sample of the blasphemy 



343 

assumed and practiced by ancient and modern Christians. 
We will further support the prior charges by commenc- 
ing with the four evangelists, their dubious and contradic- 
tory reports, stating apparently who could tell the most 
incredible and miraculous tales, without science, sense, 
or proof for the truth of anything they have said or 
done, from the designing hearts of hypocritical knaves, 
who were brought into existence by a political conclave 
of Jesuits, to devise a new religion on miraculous de- 
ceptions, whereby to carry themselves into power on the 
declining Jewish dynasty, after the Roman conquest by 
Titus, who destroyed their city and pagan temple pf 
idolatry, false worship, and sensual crime, performed 
annually in sight of King Solomon's city of abomina- 
tions, as an example which their priests called holy re- 
ligion. Holy is a general term for all religious systems, 
including the worship of Bacchus, whose temple the 
priests got to such a pitch of abomination, that children, 
male and female, from six to seven years old, were 
permitted to worship in a state of inebriety; the worship 
consisting in shameless prostitution before their grim 
idol, the votaries coming and going from all parts of 
the country. This mode of worship is general at the 
present day all over the world in private assemblies, and 
will continue until one universal creed, and the worship 
of one universal God, based on a universal system of 
moral virtues, are clearly taught and clearly under- 
stood. They are the bases of all human happiness, 
which all mankind are seeking for, but have always 
been led into crooked paths by sectarian doctrines. The 
cause of this deplorable state of things is evidently the 



344 

delinquency of the common masses of the people sunk 
in worldly sloth, without the honorable ambition of 
aiding the w^orld in its improvements, 

" But like a useless thing to die and rot. 
Unwept for by man, and by heaven forgot.'^ 

Here millions of our race, according to ancient my- 
thology, sink into the eternity of non-existence, like 
unripe fruit falling off the tree of life. 



Here we commence a practical examination of the 

Evangelists^ beginning with the Gospel according 

to St, Matthew. 

In commencing an exposition of the reports of the 
four evangelists, the writer is left in doubt w^hetherthey 
are real or fictitious names, from the obscure and du- 
bious statements given, from the vague reports, inad- 
missible in courts of judicature on the most trifling 
subjects. They having no personal knowledge of w^hat 
they relate, or w^ho the relators were that they received 
their reports from ; but commencing their incredible 
stories without preliminary or preface to the reader, as 
every open, candid waiter ought to do, with the date 
of their WTitings, and their motives for writing. Their 
want of unity in supporting the general principle or aim 
of their object, the w^ant of corroboration throughout 
their statements, with a total absence of open candor, 
but probably false in several principal points, dubious 
and deceptive in detail. Matthew abruptly contradicts 



345 

himself in his first chapter, by stating that Jesus was 
begotten by a newly-discovered deity, called a Holy 
Ghost, on a virgin called Mary, prior to her marriage 
with Joseph, who shortly after marriage found his wife 
with child, yet lived with her, but knew her not until after 
her heavenly begotten son Jesus was born. Here is an 
enigma which is unsolvable ; a husband discovering his 
young bride wuth child, and living with her without 
knowing her until her first heavenly begotten son was 
born. This is a story too ridiculous to be credited by 
any but those who never critically examined the truth 
or falsity of religious doctrines and delusive systems, 
but take the pulpit and the preacher for their standard 
of faith, like children choosing a fanciful toy. This 
will appear, to many, strange language, but it is true. 

Secondly — Matthew states the genealogy of Jesus of 
Nazareth to be the son of David, the son of Abraham, 
begotten by a Holy Ghost. This, in point of dubious 
obscuiity, cannot be exceeded. 

The next thing worthy of notice is the story of Jesus, 
(in imitation of Moses being forty days on the mount,) 
being forty days in the wilderness, tempted by the 
devil, contending about the supremacy of worship, the 
devil offering Jesus the kingdoms of the world if he 
would worship him ; this Jesus refused to do, and re- 
quired the devil to worship God. Jesus assuming to be 
God, the devil demurred to worship him, and left him 
on the pinnacle of Solomon's temple, two hundred feet 
high, (about equal, in architectural proportion, to our 
national cai)itol at Washington,) or on a mountain, yet 
undiscovered, so high as to view all the kingdoms of 



346 

the world. The earth must then have been a plain, in- 
stead of, as it now is, a globe, to see all over it. This 
is another marvelous and unexplainable story of Mat- 
thew. 

The next noted thing that Jesus is said to have done 
is : after performing many miracles, which none but 
Jesus and his interested party seen or knew to have 
been done, he sent out his apostles to perform miracles, 
and teach his doctrine. 

Jesus being a Jew in principle and practice, cared not 
for any other nation of people on earth, as their priests 
taught them to believe that they were the only favorite 
people of God, fit to rule the world, and that God had 
sworn to their father Abraham that his posterity should 
possess and rule the fairest kingdoms on earth, and that 
his mission was only to redeem the Children of Israel, 
and sit on the throne of his father King David, and rule 
it forever — commanding his apostles not to go to the 
Gentiles, but only to the house of Israel, with power 
to heal the sick, cleanse lepers, raise the dead, cast out 
devils, and immortalize immortality, which caps the 
climax of absurdity. 

Lastly, on Matthew's wonderful gospel in the account 
of the crucifixon of Jesus, when the sun closed his ever 
beaming eye, the earth trembled, and rent Solomon's 
temple from top to bottom, the rocks were rent, graves 
opened, the dead started into life, and walked the city 
of Jerusalem, being seen by many. That after Jesus' 
corpse had laid in an open sepulchre, with a rolling stone 
to close the entrance, he, on the third day, (as stated by 
a lewd woman of the town, out of whom Jesus had 



347 

formerly cast seven devils,) arose from the dead, and 
appeared to his eleven disciples ; but some of them 
doubted. This may be considered the chief of Mat- 
the^^'s gospel, he being silent as to Jesus' ascension to 
heaven, and doubts among the apostles, of his resurrec- 
tion, and the story of Mary Magdalene, who possessed 
all the evil propensities that an abandoned woman could 
possess, and whose word or oath would not be taken in 
support of anything said or done, at this enlightened 
day. This may be considered the substance of Mat- 
thew's testimony, dark and dubious as fraud could weave. 

The Gospel according to St. Mark. 

Mark pretty generally travels in the path of his pre- 
decessor, by adding among the miraculous a few of his 
own miracles ; the following is a sample : — Jesus rais- 
ing the dead. He, by a preconcerted scheme, was 
called upon to raise from the dead a young woman, 
whom, he stated, was only sleeping. However, he took 
the father and mother of the young damsel, and some of 
his own party into the room where the maid lay, and 
shut all the others out, took the damsel by the hand, 
saying the following unmeaning words, talishtha cuma^ 
and the damsel arose. None are stated to have seen the 
maid as a corpse laid out openly, when Jesus stated that 
she was only asleep, but his followers wanting a miracle, 
reported that she was dead. It appears that none believed 
it in that neighborhood, except the knaves interested in 
the scheme of their own aao-randizement. Jesus' brothers 

Do 

knowing that he was a fanatic, disbelieved his tricks, 
and cried, he is beside himself, we come to confine him. 



348 

Mark, like the whole of his party, was an ignorant 
man, and then the greater part of the world was super- 
stitious. An age of superstition is always an age of 
imposture. It was an easy matter to carry any knanish 
design into execution, and the greater the miracle, the 
greater degree of credibility it would receive. Such is 
the power of deception over unreflecting minds; like 
Moses and the Egyptian necromancers who matched him, 
equal in many things, until Aaron's rod was turned into 
a serpent, which swallowed all the enchanted serpents of 
the Egyptians ; and, lastly, when Aaron struck the dust 
of the earth with his rod, it became alive. The Egyptian 
magicians told their king that nothing but the finger of 
God could do that, and to let the Israelites go. So 
Moses, by jugglery, carried out his designs, wdth his 
twelve leaders, w^hich Jesus imitated with his twelve 
apostles, the aim and object being similar in both cases, 
each carrying out his designs by every fraudulent and 
deceitful means that duplicity and cupidity could devise, 
until each party succeeded in gaining the summit of their 
ambition. One, the fair kingdoms of Canaan; the 
other, the Roman Empire, the pioneer of the world, un- 
dermined, and finally subjugated by the insiduous wiles 
of a Christian conclave of twelve illiterate fishermen 
from the sea of Galilee. Such is the transmutable 
change of nations, from a grand republic to the most 
degrading tyranny over the souls and bodies of its sub- 
ject menials — the Church of Rome. 

It would appear to a passive reader, that Matthew 
had monopolized all the marvelous miracles, but Mark, 
not to be outdone, invented two superlative miracles. 



349 

exceeding those of Matthew, which are : — Jesus cominf^ 
from the sea of Gallilee, met a madman that dwelt 
amono; the tombs, whom no fetters or chains could bind 
or tame, (being possessed of a legion of devils,) and 
ordered the unclean spirits to come out of him, but he 
besought Jesus that he would not send his evil spirits 
out of the country, but to send them into a herd of 
swine, of about two thousand. When the evil spirits 
were cast out of the man, (like the P} thagorian system 
of souls,) they entered into the swine, and caused them 
to run violently down the steep hill, and were drowned 
in the sea. According to the plain interpretation of this 
miracle, the maniac must have had two thousand devils, 
Mary Magdalene had only seven, thus showing conclu- 
sively, that man is more wicked than woman, according 
to this miracle. 

St. Mark's account of the trial, condemnation, and 
crucifixion of Jesus, only partially supports Matthew's 
account, yet exceeds him by stating Jesus' ascension to 
heaven, which Matthew does not state anything of. It 
appears that Mark's gospel was meant to support that 
of Matthew, yet the want of system and consistency 
has rather made it more dubious. He states that Jesus 
was arraigned and condemned for blasphemy and high 
treason against the Roman government, by stating that 
he was the Son' of God, possessing all the power of his 
father, in heaven and earth, to sit on King David's 
throne, an*d rule it forever, with power to transfer it 
to whom he pleased. # 

Jesus' assuming to be king of the Jews when the 
Jewish dynasty was under the Roman government, was 
30 



350 

considered treason ; and his assuming to be the Son of 
God with all the power of God, w^as considered blas- 
phemy, for which he suffered death on the cross ; a 
kingly robe and a crown of thorns were put upon him, 
to die a felon's death between two thieves. 

Mark's account of Jesus' resurrection from the dead 
is as follows : — Jesus arose on the third day after his 
interment in an open sepulchre, with amoving door, and 
first appeared to Mary Magdalene, (out of whom he is 
said to have cast seven devils,) who told the apostles 
that Jesus had arisen, and appeared to her alive ; they 
know^ing what Mary formerly w^as, did not believe her. 
Jesus came to his apostles when they were together at 
meat, and upbraided their unbelief, saying : '' he that 
believeth on me shall be saved; but he that believeth 
not shall be damned ; " then he was received up into 
heaven. 

The apostles declared their disbelief in the resurrec- 
tion or ascension, yet Mark states, in opposition to the 
disciples, only Mary Magdalene's report of the resur- 
rection. 

It would extend the limits of this work beyond its 
intended size, to fully expatiate on the discrepancy and 
total lack of either circumstantial, legal, rational, or 
probable testimony to support anything said or done, 
from the first of Matthew, throughout the New Testa- 
ment, to the last of John's Revelations, different from 
the common occurrences or the established la-ws of na- 
ture, «but abundance of legal, philosophical and rational 
testimony to disprove its essential and principal parts, 
which are false and fictitious. It is the greatest farce 



351 

ever played on the world since time began, and held its 
deluded victims longer in its insidious grasp ; but, like 
Alexander with the Gordian knot, will be severed, and 
the human mind disenthralled from its mental bondaw. 

Luke is the only one of the evangelists that speaks 
both of the resurrection and ascension of Jesus, against 
the doubtful belief of the apostles. 

John does not state anything of the ascension what- 
ever, but states that ten days after the resurrection, 
Jesus was at the sea of Tiberius, aiding his apostles in 
catching and eating fish ; although his ghastly wounds 
were unhealed on the eighth day, as unbelieving Thomas 
thrust his hand into the spear wound in his side ; then 
Thomas, it is said, believed, but does not state what his 
belief was. 

It appears that the evangelists vied with each other 
as to which could invent and tell the most miraculous, 
dubious, and incredible stories, to support their intrigue 
to carry their party into power. 

Here has been given a brief exposition of the four 
evangelists, who give no satisfactory account of who or 
what they are, whether real or fictitious authors ; Luke 
being the only one who dedicated his gospel to one of 
the converted disciples named Theophilus, to whom he 
likewise communicated the acts of the apostles, who 
commenced their operations about forty days after the 
crucifixion, during which time they sat in secret conclave 
systematizing their plans of operation. They com- 
menced with a grand overture to a grander drama, 
w^hich was to be acted over the world, by which means 
they were to convert it into a new religious system. 



352 

By becoming converted to it the world would be re- 
deemed from sin. This is one of the most interesting 
and exciting subjects that men, demons or sectarian re- 
ligionists could invent, to carry their party (the under- 
drift of society) into power and glory that any religious 
party ever arrived at, far exceeding the world conquered 
by Alexander, or the fairest portions of it conquered by 
Moses and Joshua. These three were variant in opera- 
tion but one in design ; the Macedonian madman being 
the most merciful and generous conquerer. Extermina- 
tion, rapine and desolation followed in the track of the 
Mosaic leaders, but far greater and more lasting enor- 
mities have been and are committed under the garb of 
Christian popery, which is now weaning to its dark des- 
tiny to sink to rise no more. 

Language fails to depict one of the most sublimely 
ridiculous and farcical scenes ever acted on the stage of 
the world, by tw^elve illiterate fishermen from the sea 
of Galilee, accompanied by their disciples, who acted 
as aiders and prompters in the grand miraculous farce, 
numbering one hundred and twenty drilled corps, all 
fully initiated into the mystery of the grand drama about 
to be acted, which w^as to regenerate and save the w^orld 
from sin. Pentecost being a noted day in the Jewish 
rituals, was reported to be the day appointed by the 
apostles to perform the grand drama of receiving the 
Holy Ghost. Thousands assembled to see the perform- 
ance, w^hich, it is said, commenced as follows : When the 
apostles and their disciples were sitting, there came a 
mighty wind which filled the house, and appeared unto 
them as cloven tongues of fire, which sat on each of 



853 

them to speak as the spirit gave them utterance ; which 
appeared to the bewildered assembly a heterogeneous 
jargon of unmeaning language, and which the outside 
expositors explained to the multitude, was the reception 
of the Holy Ghost, which spoke with divers tongues. 
Some were amazed, others said they w^ere drunk, and 
all were bewildered in doubt. Thus ended the dramati- 
cal-farce that has bewildered the w^orld to the present 

day- ^ 

After this grand flourish of raving words — without 
meaning, such as conjurors use in calling their deceptive 
spirits, and such as Jesus, their master magician used in 
raising the dead, " talistha cuma,'^^ and such like un- 
meaning gibberish, in working miracles — the apostles 
commenced performing miracles in imitation of their 
master ; the out-door parties supplying them with sham 
invalids to operate upon — like the Jewish bacchanal 
parties performed the same deceptive miracles as Jesus 
and his apostles are said to have done, or like the 
■^gyP^^"^" j^gg'^^s, who in general performed miracles 
equal to Moses, who hired them to state to their king 
that Moses performed his miracles by the finger of God, 
and that they could not overcome him. The apostles 
carried out their delusive plans in a similar way by in- 
ducing their converts to sell their places and cast their 
funds into the common stock, and making them believe 
that they would receive a hundred per cent, for it here, 
and heaven in eternity. This is the way that the apos- 
tles and their party worked themselves into wealth and 
power, which procedure, at this present day, would 
30* 



354 

consign thena to the penitentiary for obtaining property 
by fraudulent means. 

One of the apostles, a decoy named Joses, (who aided 
in supplying them with false invalids) opened the drama 
by selling his lands and laying the money at the apos- 
tles' feet, which induced unknown numbers to do the 
same. They sold their possessions and gave them to 
to those who had need, thus making the scheme a com- 
mon stock system, trading heavenly bliss for earthly 
treasures. Thus the apostles made more money in one 
day than they could make in a life-time by catching fish, 
as their master Jesus shrew^dly told them he w^ould make 
them fishers of men. 

This is the way these vagrants wandered over the 
earth, preaching up alms-giving as being the main 
principle of their new religion, blessing the poor and ig- 
norant and reviling the sensible people who w^ould not 
be duped by them. 

They then continued their way into Rome, having 
sufficient wealth and influence to establish a hierarchial 
government, with shrew^d-swearing Peter for their chief 
bishop and pope of Rome, to rule the world, always 
giving those who put in the largest stock in their reli- 
gious enterprise, the highest and most lucrative offices. 
Such is the astonishing^ result of the cunning cupidity of 
unprincipled men, from the lowest to the highest stations 
on earth, by insidious cabals of designing men starting 
some absorbing excitement to revolutionize the world, 
and holds its deluded victims in its torpid embrace so 
long as the insidious system of Christian popery steals 
the affections of wife and daughter from the bosom of 



355 

father and husband, a crime of the deepest dye against 
the laws of God and the dignity and happiness of man. 
This has been the withering influence of Christian po- 
pery for eighteen hundred and fifty-four years, but 
republican America will write her epitaph and elegy, 
for her sins have reached to heaven and God hath re- 
membered her iniquities, for she hath made all nations 
drunk w^ith the wine of her fornication and adultery. 
She saith, " I sit a queen over the earth, and shall see 
no sorrow, but she shall be utterly burned with the 
fiery indignation of man, for the Lord God judgeth 
her/^ 

A few more observations on the sayers and doer$ in the 
Jfew Testament, of which Jesus claimed to be author. 

The writer states that from a scrutinizing and impar- 
tial examination, to ascertain truth from falsehood, to 
analyze Christian doctrine and reconcile it with rational 
sense and the invariable laws that constitute mind and 
matter ; a heavy task for a man in the seventy-fifth year 
of his age, with eternity in vie>v, and a strong faith in 
the cause and effect of human action in connection with 
free agency and accountability, with all the knowledge 
that the true science of nature and reason can teach, in 
ancient and modern theology ; he has found that the 
opposite elements of fire and water would be more easily 
made to assimilate, than the truths of science with the 
bewildering dogmas of metaphysical theology, which is 
a stumbling-block in the true path to intellectual know- 
ledge. 

Such is the irreconcilable difference between the true 



356 

demonstrative science of nature (which is the science of 
God) and theological science, taught by interested 
teachers who lead a life of duplicity and indolence; that 
no man, learned in the science of nature, can candidly 
teach doctrines adverse to the demonstrative science 
thereof, which is the science of the infinite wisdom ol 
God and deceiveth not ; all else is trickish deception, 
beneath the dignity of well-informed minds to counte- 
nance. 

On the preaching and teaching of Jesus and his apostles. 

They were all of the lowest and most illiterate 
grades of society ; none of them could teach, preach or 
know rational sense or science. Therefore, their teach- 
ing, and what they called preaching, were unedifying, 
dubious, contradictory and undignified, without pith or 
point, except designing duplicity — which evidently ap- 
pears in all that Jesus and his apostles said or done, 
from the time they commenced their dubious designs 
until they reached the height of their ambition by un- 
dermining god-like Rome, which sat on her seven-hilled 
city and ruled the world in majesty and glory with her 
towering eagle ; now alas ! transplaced by the bloody 
cross of Calvary, wiiose subject-slaves groan in mental 
bondage. 

But why lament for the fallen glory of ancient Rome? 
The bird of Jove, seeing that liberty had fled from the 
Eastern world, plumed his wrings for America, and perch- 
ed himself on the pinnacle of our towering republican 
temple at Washington, only to remove with the expira- 
tion of time. View our gorgeous repubhc, with its vast 



357 

resources, a virgin world of wealth and splendor, an 
Eden in its early bloom, more lovely than the promised 
lands of Canaan, without the sin of massacre and rob- 
bery committed by Moses and Joshua on the first set- 
tlers, improvers and lawful owners of the property. 
Instead thereof our forefathers only claimed a participa- 
tion in God's free bounty ; the land for a habitation and 
the waters for an inheritance ; and generally purchased 
the Indian claims without violation of right, so that God 
has sealed prosperity to the people of the United States 
for their equitable and mild laws to their fellow men. 

The reader is again reminded that a fuller and more 
satisfactory account will be given in the general classi- 
fied recapitulation and summary, in the after-part of this 
book, to support the charges herein stated against the 
founders of the Christian religion. 

A brief expose of John's wonderful and ambiguous 
revelation, which is the sealing close of the New Testa- 
ment. 

Selections from Jokn^s Revelation in the Isle of Patmos, 
to the seven churches of Jisia, 

First. To the church of Ephesus : '' Thou hast tried 
them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast 
found them liars." 

Second. To the church in Smyrna : ^^ I know thy 

tribulation Be thou faithful unto death, and I 

will give thee a crown of life." 

Third. To the church in Pergamos : '^I know thou 

boldest fast my name But thou hast them there 

that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to 



358 

cast a stumbling-block before the children of Israel, to 
eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornica- 
tion.'' 

Fourth. To the church in Thyatira : "I know thy 
works and charity But thou sufferest that wo- 
man Jezebel, whiclj calleth herself a prophetess, to teach 
and seduce my servants to commit fornication and to 
eat things sacrificed unto idols/' 

Fifth, To the church in Sardis : " I know thy 
works, that thou hast a name, that thou livest, and art 
dead. . . But I have not found thy works perfect before 
God." 

Sixth. To the church in Philadelphia : '' I know thy 

works Thou hast kept my w^ord and hast not 

denied my name I also will keep thee from the 

hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, 
to try them that dwell upon the earth." 

Seventh. To the church of the Laodiceans : '^ I know 

thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot I 

will spew thee out of my mouth." 

This is the abridged substance of John's heavenly com- 
munication to the seven churches of Asia, which shows 
that the conversion of Jews or Gentiles had no perma- 
nent effect for the better, beyond that of their former doc- 
trines and practices. The apostle Paul said, and it was 
reported that the Corinthian churches being used to 
their large protracted meetings — where gluttony, drunk- 
enness and lewdness were inseparable companions, the 
converts using the sacramental elements to their former 
immoral types — practiced the greatest degree of private 
immoralities under the garb of religion and worship. 



359 

What other rational construction can be put upon pri- 
vate popish confessionals, than licentious dens of female 
pollution? Also, Economites and Shakers (believed to 
prevent issue) commit under the garb of religion, nightly- 
meetings of promiscuous lustful excess, out of the course 
of moral law and decency. 

Conversion, effected by momentary excitement, with- 
out the dispassionate exercise of reason, can never be 
durable. Hence the fickleness of weak minds in sudden 
sallies of feverish passion. 

From the fourth to the thirteenth chapter of John's 
Revelation is chiefly the descriptive imagery of Jesus 
and his apostles, typified in heaven. 

In the compilation of the acts of the apostles with his 
Revelations ; by a retrospective view of the whole say- 
ings and doings in the New Testament which transpired 
before he was born, as he wrote in the ninety-sixth year 
of the Christian era ; he took, like all his predecessors, 
the vague and unauthenticated reports of the evangelists 
and disciples, and closed the New Testament with the 
spirit of a visionary flourish. 

As there is nothing more w^orthy of note than has 
been explained, we shall proceed to the twelfth chapter, 
which is connected with a popular belief of war in hea- 
ven (a prominent point in theology,) as follow^s : 

There appeared a great wonder in heaven ; a woman 
clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and 
upon her head a crown of twelve stars : and she being 
wuth child cried in birth. And a red dragon having 
seven heads and ten horns stood before the woman to 
devour her child. And his tail drew a third part of the 



360 

stars of heaven and cast them on the earth. And the 
woman brought forth a man child ; which was to rule 
the world ; and was cast up into heaven. And there was 
war in heaven ; Michael and his angels fought the dra- 
gon, called the devil, and cast him and his angels out 
into the earth to deceive the world. And when the 
devil saw the woman brought forth a man child, was 
wroth, and warred against her seed. And I saw a beast 
rise out of the sea, with ten horns and ten crowns on his 
head ; and the world worshiped him, saying, who is 
able to make war against him? And he opened his 
mouth in miracles^ in blasphemy against God ; and de- 
ceived the world by miracles ; and those that would not 
worship him he killed ; and called all, rich and poor, to 
receive a mark in their foreheads ; and out of the mouth 
of the beast and the false prophets, which are the spirits 
of devils, working miracles. 

And I saw a woman sit on a scarlet colored beast, 
having seven heads and ten horns, full of names of 
blasphemy ; and the woman was arrayed in purple, 
decked with gold and pearls, and a golden cup in her 
hand, full of the abominations of her fornication, and on 
her forehead was written the mother of harlots and the 
abomination of the earth. 

And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the 
saints and martyrs ; and the angel said : I will tell thee 
the mysteries of the woman, and the beast that carrieth 
her. The beast that thou sawest ascended out of the 
bottomless pit, and shall go into perdition ; and the 
waters thou sawest where the whore sitteth, are peoples, 
multitudes, tongues and nations ; and the ten horn? 



361 

which thou sawest on the beast shall hate the whore 
and burn her with fire. And the woman which thou 
sawest, is that great city which reigneth over the kings 
of the earih. 

And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, come out of 
her, my people, and be not partakers of her sins, which 
have reached to heaven, and God hath remembered her 
iniquities, for she sayeth I sit a queen on the earth, and 
see no sorrow, but she shall be utterly burned with fire, 
for the Lord God judgeth her. And those kings that 
have lived deliciously, and committed adultery and for- 
nication with her, shall bewail her burning, saying : 
Alas I alas! for the great city, decked in purple, scar- 
let, gold, precious stones and pearls. And a mighty 
angel took up a great stone, and cast it into the sea, 
saying: thus, with violence shall that great city be 
thrown down, to rise no more ; for in her w^as found the 
blood of the righteous slain on the earth ; the new born 
babe, the polluted virgin, the gray-headed sire, and the 
helpless mother filled the cells of bloody inquisitions 
and dens of crime and deeds of deepest dye, where no 
eye could see nor tongue reveal. 

And I heard a voice from heaven, as the noise of 
many waters, and the voice of the harpers harping a 
new song, which none could learn except forty and four 
thousand, which had not defiled themselves with wo- 
men, for they were virgins, men redeemed of God to 
the Lamb, to preach the gospel to all nations, to keep 
the commandments of God, and faith in Jesus, and sin»r 
the song of Moses and the Lamb. 

And I saw the heavenly Jerusalem, with jasper walls 
31 



362 

clear as crystal, great and high, with twelve gates, 
and an angel at each gate, with the names of the twelve 
apostles of the Lamb. 

And I, John, saw these things, and fell down to wor- 
ship the angels, who said unto me, see thou do it not ; 
worship God. 

I, Jesus, have sent mine angel to testify those things 
unto the churches. I am the root and offspring of 
David, the bright and morning star. 

If any man shall take away or add to the words of 
this book, God shall take away his part from the book 
of life, and the things written therein, called John's 
Revelation, and close of the New Testament of Jesus, 
the illegitimate son of Mary, wife of Joseph of Arimathea. 

Here the writer craves the attention of the reader to 
adopt philosophical principles. 

*' He who truth from from falsehood would discern. 
Must first disrobe the mind, and all unlearn.'' 

Experience teaches us that whatever is first impressed 
upon the mind, whether true or false, generally remains 
on it, without a mature self-examination of its truth or 
falsehood. It takes the impression like a seal, from the 
hand that stamped it ; therefore a vast majority of men 
never improve the world or their own understanding, 
but pass through it, from the cradle to the grave, in 
their own contracted routine of business life, without 
precept or example to posterity, to better their condi- 
tion or improve their understanding. 

Our Protestant system is but a poor improvement on 
the latter, which only holds two states in eternity, that 



363 

of happiness and misery. The heathen holds three — a 
state of happiness for those who have done something 
to merit it, and a state of punishment proportioned to 
their crimes ; those who have lived without improving 
themselves or the world, after death fall into a state of 
nonenity — thus showing that heathen theology is much 
more consistent with reason and mercy than Christian 
theology, from which the latter was transposed, as we 
can trace it back to the days of Pythagoras and Plato, 
who probably were indebted to more ancient tradition, 
as all theology is only based on traditionary fables. 
The latter always transposes the former to suit some 
fancy or design, by inventing some new addition, or old 
one dressed in a new garb. This is the general craft 
and science of theology, from the days of Cain and Abel 
to the present time, and sorrowful to state, the mania 
increases with time, and will continue until the good 
sense and maturer education among the common masses 
of the people will finally irradiate the minds of all na- 
tions of people to qualify themselves for self-judgment, 
on the science of mind and self-knowledge to understand 
the whole duties of life, to God, himself, and his fel- 
low-man. 

** First, parent, friend and neighbor to embrace, 
His country next, and next the human race. 
Wide and more wide, the overflowing mind 
Takes every creature in, of every kind; 
Making earth smile around with beauty blest, 
And heaven beholds its image in man's breast." 

Here are the whole virtuous duties of man, the prac- 
tice of which makes him happy, as God evidently in 



364 

his creation intended the happiness of all his creatures, 
man being the favorite and lord of all below, a type of 
his Maker, enthroned in a mortal body ; the practice of 
these virtuous duties beino- an imitation of God^s love 
and bounty to all ; to make all happy, is more conge- 
nial to His infinity than all the external devotions, 
prayers, preaching, or sacrifices ever offered from 
thrones, pulpits, or altars, since God created man. 

*♦ Knaw then this truth, (enough for man to know,) 
Virtue, alone, is happiness below.*' 

And happiness in this life prepares the soul of man for a 
higher state of blissful happiness in eternity. 

This may be considered a compendium of duties to 
lead the soul on the path to present and final happiness, 
without bewildering dogmas of theology, a stumbling 
block in the road to peace and happiness to mankind. 

We shall now give a few observations on John^s 
Revelation, prior to the general recapitulation and sum- 
mary at the close of this work. 

The apostle John, like all his predecessors, wrote 
from the report of his predecessors, who wrote from the 
report of the wise men of the east, whom we are left to 
doubt whether they were real or imaginary creatures of 
the brain, like the fictitious characters in a novel, drama, 
play or farce ; therefore, no reliance can be placed in 
the truth of such dramatic representations. In France 
it was styled the mysteries and moralities, acted by 
eighty-seven monks, their principal actor being St. John 
(who wrote the Revelation.) These plays were introduced 
by vagrant pilgrims from the holy land, (so called,) who 



365 

represented the death of their Saviour, which lasted eight 
days in its performance. Scaffolds were erected on the 
stage to represent Jesus ascending; to heaven, with every 
invention that these vagrant monks could devise to ex- 
cite the audience, under the garb of religious piety. 

The king was so much pleased with their representa- 
tions that he granted them a charter. The rage became 
so great for these plays, that the priests had to begin 
their mass early in the morning, or perform service to 
empty benches ; so that, like at New Orleans, the people 
could step out of church into the play-house. The 
plays became so popular that the monks raised their 
exhibition fees so high for their religious masses and re- 
ligious plays, that parliament limited their fees. 

This shows that the ignorant world can always be 
duped by designing knaves, hence the necessity of the 
common people educating themselves better, so that 
they cannot be so easily duped by evil designing men, 
under the garb of religion. No man has yet been found 
to understand or explain it. Thousands of speculative 
systems have been devised by the cunning cupidity of 
man, like the aforesaid farce of Christianity, as acted 
over the world, changing like the chameleon its varie- 
gated colors in the light of day, so that no two persons 
seeing it from diff*erent positions can see or describe it 
alike. Such are the dubious doctrines devised by selfish 
men for their own interests. 

Teachers and preachers presume to know what mor- 
tals can never know ; and the useful knowledge they 
can and ought to know, the preachers nor theological 
colleges do not teach their votaries. 
31* 



366 

Stating, as the priests openly say, '^ open the under- 
standing of the people, and we will have to close up our 
purses, and remodel our theological colleges into scien- 
tific high schools,'^ like Girard College, a model of 
science, sense and intellectual knowledge, a beacon 
light and model for renovating a bewildered and be- 
nighted world, where all useful knowledge is taught to 
qualify man fit for every useful and dignified station in 
life, that the various minds of men can be fitted for, at 
a tenth of the expense of theology, the Upas tree that 
withers the intellectual energies of man. 

There are scores of commentators, system makers, 
colleges, and expositors of the New Testament, all dis- 
agreeing, like the apostles, on the ambiguous and con- 
tradictory doctrines taught and recorded by Luke the 
Evangelist, who discredited his own statements, and the 
veracity of the apostles, in either the resurrection or 
ascension of their Master. 

In respect to the Revelation of John, we are in doubt 
whether John was, like the evangelists, a real or dramatic 
character. The Revelation being written in a loftier 
style of language than anything in the Testament writ- 
ten by illiterate men, as all actors in that drama repre- 
sent themselves to be incapable of using language to 
clearly explain their own meaning, leads to the belief 
that the Revelation was written by the popish conclave 
at Rome, when they gained their ambitious ascension to 
power, they being the only angels of Jesus who commu- 
nicated to John his wonderful scenes in heaven, which 
exceed the gorgeous imagery of Milton, with the flow- 
ery pathos of Homer, or the sublime scenery of Virgil, 



367 

and which an ignorant writer could no more imitate 
than the owl could imitate the dove. They being 
wealthy, seated themselves in power at Rome, where 
plenty of educated men, such as Virgil, joined their con- 
clave and strengthened their powder ; as in the case of 
all new governments, by offering post and pension, 
thousands can be obtained to worship the rising sun, to 
one that worships its setting. 

It will evidently appear that John was either one of the 
cardinals in the popish conclave, or a dramatic repre- 
sentative of the scenery of the New^ Testament, which 
has been acted by the priests and monks, over pope- 
dom, as plays ; thus making immense fortunes from the 
superstitious ignorant world, by vagrant knaves. The 
scenery now being changed to a Latin representation of 
the crucifixion and ascension of Jesus, produces an 
enormous revenue to the pope and his clergy. 

This is a condensed view of the Christian religion, 
from its commencement to the present day, more fabu- 
lous than the many-headed monsters of antiquity, saints 
of earth making war against heaven. 

Look at the degraded serfs of monarchical and eccle- 
siastical governments of the far eastern world ; instead 
of improving their condition, they are sunk in wretched 
poverty and disgrace, brutalized and sensualized by 
their idolatrous religion, worshiping every imaginary 
idol, good or evil, that their priests can invent, teaching 
them that God, being so far above all beings in heaven 
and earth, has given up all his power, (like our Chris- 
tians,) into the hands of the priests, who know no more 
of the spiritual purity of God, than the degraded papist, 



368 

whose mind never soars higher to God than the Pope of 
Rome, who received his power from Simon Peter, the 
illiterate fisherman of Galilee, who received it from 
Jesus of Nazareth, who is said to have received his 
power from God, who gave up to him all power in heaven 
and earth, with the keys of heaven to open and shut to 
whom he pleased ; so that our Christian theology is 
based on Hindoo and Mosaic mythology. 

Metaphysical theology bears a strong resemblance to 
a pack of cards, the game is lose or gain, every shuffle 
gives a game, the knowledge of which requires the ex- 
pense of teaching ; every cut of the cards gives a new 
hand, and form of play to endless varieties. So, with 
religious systems, the play of one is similar to the other, 
as no rational system is yet discovered, except the prac- 
tical imitation of the attributes of God, namely : 
wisdom, goodness, justice, truth, and mercy, the prac- 
tice of which virtues will assuredly lead to happy 
results in time, preparatory to a happy eternity. This 
is the religion of God. 



369 



MAN'S ACCOUNTABILITY 

For his actions as a two-fold beings to an earthly as well 
as a spiritual tribunal. 

Man being distinct from all other created things, pos- 
sessing a mortal body and a never-dying soul, the body 
subject to an earthly tribunal, the soul to a spiritual God ; 
the body only being the actor, the soul the prompter of 
the deed, whether good or evil ;' therefore, as man is a 
two-fold being, subject to a tw^o-fold accountability, one 
to the law of his fellow man, his soul to the laws of his 
God, as the laws of man can only judge of the action 
when brought before it by legal testimony, but God, be- 
ing infinite in wisdom, knows not only the action but the 
motive for performing the action. Thus when God 
created man, he possessed him with bodily and spiritual 
senses as means of acquiring all knowledge to know good 
from evil, right from wrong and truth from falsehood, 
therefore, a knowing violation of these laws of rectitude 
in prompting the body to perform a sinful action, the 
soul stapds accountable as the first cause of the action, 
the body being incapable of performing either good or 
evil, independent of the impulse of the mind, the main- 
spring of bodily action, the body being only the engine as 
propelled by its internal impulse, the soul. 

These senses of understanding: that we are endowed 
with, every person should know, to perform his duty to 



370 

himself and others, his duty according to the laws of 
nature ; first, self-preservation of life, family and property 
as the means of their comfort and existence, next the re- 
ciprocal, friendly intercourse with our friends and neigh- 
bors, with a good will to all our fellows, all being mem- 
bers of one family of God. These faculties of body and 
mind, called senses, whereby we judge of our duty to 
ourselves and others ; from these faculties we receive all 
the knowledge we now possess or ever can possess in 
any other way, but receive it second-handed from some 
other sectarian system-maker, who garbled it from other 
fragments of exploded systems ; dressed up in a new garb 
and name, like a new-fashioned dress, we wear it until 
some new design offers a change. 

Such is truly our bew^ildering system of what we call 
religious doctrines, which, if examined critically by the 
searching powers of reason and science, would all be 
pronounced false and baseless in truth, as chaos prior to 
God's organization of it into harmony, by changing 
visionary phantoms into realities. 

This is a sweeping denunciation of all religious sys- 
tems without exception — all, all being to a scrutinizing 
mind, human inventions ; since Cain slew his brother, 
falsely believing a life-sacrifice more acceptable to God 
than the fruits of the earth, causing this most ^delusive 
and pernicious example to spread over a benighted 
world, planting in its track wars, desolation and sorrow, 
where God had evidently planted joy and happiness. 
Out of this lamented example sprung all the false sys- 
tems of religious worship, up to this day preached and 
taught from every pulpit and college in the w^orld, Jew, 



371 

Gentile and Christian ; the humane and generous Turk, 
more rational, excepted, with a small sect of worshiping 
people called Quakers, who began to examine the bases 
of religious worship and found them all delusive inventions 
of human duplicity, void of sound sense, science or reason, 
false in theory and pernicious in practice, preventing free 
discussion of thought by teaching and supporting the 
heathenish superstition that there is no remission of sin 
without the shedding of blood, and that the sacrifice of 
a man named Jesus, the illegitimate son of a woman, 
who w^as crucified for treason against the Roman go- 
vernment and blasphemy against God, stating himself to 
be the son of God, to whom God had transmitted his 
power both on earth and in heaven, and that he was 
born to be a prophet, a priest and a king, to redeem 
Israel, and sit on King David's throne and rule it for- 
ever. 

In tyrannical governments of the old world none but 
the sons of the government and clergy are permitted a 
full education; so that they hold the reins in their own 
hands, with all the posts of honor, trust or profit ; thus 
making about nine-tenths of their people do the menial work 
of their kingrlom. Here, where the people hold the reins 
in their own hands, all who may qualify themselves for 
office can be elected, without reference to birth or cir- 
cumstance ; qualified merit being the only true principle 
in our republican code to office and honor. 

We shall close with the following illustration of the 
soul's accountability to a spiritual tribunal, and support 
it from the highest authority of ancient and modern au- 
thors, with the writer's unbiassed judgment on this as 



372 

well as on all other subjects here discussed ; first stating 
the ancient authors, beginning with Moses, Pythagoras, 
Plato, Virgil and Cicero, all deep students of mental, 
moral and physical science. 

The ancient Jews generally considered Moses' de- 
scription of the soul, in the light of the life principle of 
the body, as resulting from bodily organization acting on 
the mind ; therefore, the Jewish punishment for sin 
was chiefly to be inflicted on the body by the casual 
calamities of life, thus inferring the soul's dissolution 
with the body. Confucius, the Chinese philosopher, 
taught the moral virtues as the only means of earthly 
happiness ; thus leaving (wisely) spirituality to be taught 
in a spiritual world. 

Pythagoras only taught that the soul's eternity existed 
by transmigration, that when one body died it passed 
into a new germ to give it life, thus continuing its own 
existence as a life-giving principal, throughout eternity. 
The Christian system of reanimating dead bodies into 
new ones, more ambiguous, does not inform us how the 
soul exists between the death of the body and the resur- 
rection. If, as stated, the soul cannot exist without be- 
ing connected with a living body, Adam's soul must 
have been in nonentity five thousand years ago, losing 
consciousness of its own existence, and like the body will 
require a new animation on the resurrection day. This 
is inconsistent with the infinite wisdom of God, nor can 
all the logic in metaphysical theology make it consistent 
with science or rational sense. 

Plato merely reasons himself into the eternity of the 
soul, thus ; that Infinite Wisdom would not endow man 



373 

with these God-like faculties of the mind, with such a 
desire for knowledge, and the short period of life, insuf- 
ficient to satisfy the longing soul in its thirst for know- 
ledge ; but would continue its joyous existence in higher 
intellectual bliss in eternity. Thus Plato, the then mas- 
ter-spirit of mental and physical science, established the 
belief in the immortality of the soul. All the young 
aspirants, after this, invested themselves with souls, 
w^hich has become general to this day. 

Virgil and Cicero, commenting on the divine essences, 
heavenly qualities and virtues, state : that no man that 
did not acknowledge the possession of a soul was to be 
considered below the dignity of an intelligent man ; thus 
fulfilling the poet's estimation of the soul — 

<' Were I so tall to reach the pole, 
Or grasp the ocean with my span, 
I must be measured by my soul — 
The mind's the standard of the man.*' 

Virgil, from more ancient authors, believed in the im- 
mortality of the soul and its accountability for human 
action, the wicked to suffer punishment ; the souls of 
good men after death are either reunited to Deity, or 
the universal spirit He created in the beginning, which 
animates the world ; the soul enjoying forever tlie repose 
and pleasures of Elysium, these shades can be seen but 
not touched, and resemble their former bodies, (as we 
behold our images in a mirror) retaining the consciousness 
of their identity, with a remembrance of their past life 
and affections that distinguished them on earth. But 
none of the ancient philosophers had any idea of the re- 
32 



374 

surrection and re-uniting of the soul and body in their 
Elysium, Paradise or Heaven ; nor was such an anomaly 
ever thought of, until after the fabulous story of the 
resurrection and ascension of a mortal man called Jesus 
into heaven. This false report being destitute of testi- 
mony of truth, and solely foisted on the superstitious, 
ignorant part of the world, by a conclave of one hundred 
and twenty knaves, to raise themselves into power, on 
the downfall of the Jewish and Roman dynasties, on 
w^hich they raised their new^ trinitarian religion called 
Christianity; w^ithout science, sense, reason or credibility 
to support truth in anything they have said or done ; one 
of the greatest delusions that ever cursed the world, and 
ruled it with a rod of iron upwards of a thousand years, 
by a blasphemous wretch styled God, pope of Rome. 

We here close wuth a few general remarks on the 
points of the subject, w^hich is: The accountability of 
human actions to an earthly as well as spiritual tri- 
bunal. 

The civil law holds the body accountable, and w^hen 
once punished according to law, the punishment is an 
expiation of the crime, and not to be subject to a second 
trial. The soul is only the prompter to the deed, but 
not the doer of it. 

The soul, from its strong sympathy in the pleasures 
and pains of the body, shares in its afHictions, and ac- 
cordingly shares in the expiation or atonement for the 
crime. 

If all human actions could be tried before an earthly 
tribunal, the apparent necessity of a spiritual tribunal 
might be doubted. But when we believe that there are 



875 

deep and deadly crimes comrnitted in secret, from all 
eyes but those of God, the good sense of the world 
requires a belief in a spiritual as well as an earthly 
tribunal. 

This is a subject that is of importance for man to rely 
upon as true, according to the standard of sound reason, 
which reasoning man believes to be the standard of God; 
as man has no other reliable source to know the ways or 
wdll of God than by the exercise of his reasoning powers 
in the apparent wisdom, greatness and bountiful good- 
ness, as displayed in His w^orks of creation, more par- 
ticularly that of man ; which appears to him that he is 
the intellectual image of his maker, a sima-deity of earth 
and candidate for heaven, the offspring of the indivisible, 
eternal, spiritual God, whom nature w^orships and man 
adores. 

Here we close on the accountability of human action 
to a spiritual as well as human tribunal, and believe and 
support the statement, but utterly deny the resurrec- 
tion of the body, as preposterous and inconsistent with 
the wisdom of God and the reasoning power of intel- 
lectual man. This ridiculous story was taught by the 
apostolic conclave, after the death of their master, to 
renew their delusion and carry themselves into powder, 
which was consummated on the day of Pentecost, by one 
of the most ridiculous farces ever played on the world ; 
that of receiving the Holy Ghost, with power over hea- 
ven and earth, which led them to the height of their 
ambition by duping a credulous world. 



376 

CLOSING LINES ON FUTURITY, 

BY CAMPBELL. 

" Short shall this half-extinguished spirit burn, 
And soon these limbs to kindred dust return, 
But not my soul. With life's precarious fire, 
The immortal ties of Nature shall expire ; 
These shall resist the triumph of decay, 
"When time is o'er, and worlds have passed away. 

. Cold in the dust this perished heart may lie. 
But that which warmed it once shall never die; 
The spark, unburied in its mortal frame, 
With living light, eternal and the same. 
Shall beam on joys' interminable years, 
Unveiled by darkness, unassuaged by tears.' 



377 



THE AUTHOR-HERO OF THE REVOLUTION. 

It was the time when a band of Rebels sate in Car- 
penters' Hall, when the smoke of Lexington and Bunker 
Hill was yet in the sky, and the undried blood of War- 
ren and all the martyrs was yet upon the ground ; it was 
in this time, in the blood-red dawn of our Revolution, 
that a scene of some interest took place in the city of 
William Penn. 

Look yonder, and behold that solitary lamp, flinging 
its dim light through the shadows of a neatly furnished 
room. 

Grouped around the table, the glow of the lamp pour- 
ing full in their faces, are four persons — a Boston Lawyer, 
a Philadelphia Printer, a Philadelphia Doctor and a Vir- 
ginia Planter. 

Come with me to that lonely room. Let us seat our- 
selves there. Let us look into the faces of these men — 
that man with the bold brow and resolute look is one 
John Adams, from Boston ; next to him sits the calm- 
faced Benjamin Rush ; then you see the marked face of 
the Printer, one Benjamin Franklin; and last of all your 
eye rests upon a man distinguished above all others by 
his height, the noble outlines of his form, the solemn 
dignity^of his brow. That man is named Washington — 
one Mr. George Washington, from Mount Vernon. 
32* 



378 

And these men are all members of the Rebel Congress. 
They have met here to talk over the affairs of their 
country. Their conversation is deep-toned — cautious — 
hurried. Every man seems afraid to give free utterance 
to the thoughts of his bosom. 

Confiscation — the gibbet — the axe ! These have been 
the revrard of brave men before now, who dared speak 
treason against his majesty by the grace of God. There- 
fore, is the conversation of the four patriots burdened 
with restraint and gloom. 

They talk of Bunker Hill, of Lexington, of the blood- 
thirsty British Ministry, of the weak and merciless Bri- 
tish king. 

Then, from the lips of Franklin, comes the great 
question : Where is this war to end ? Are we fighting 
only for a change in the British Ministry ? Or — or — for 
the Independence of our native land ? 

There is silence in that room. 

Washington, Adams, Rush, all look into each other's 
faces, and are silent. 

Bound to England by ties of ancestry — language — re- 
ligion — the very idea of separation from her seems a 
blasphemy. 

Yes, with their towns burnt, their people murdered — 
Bunker Hill smoking there, Lexington bleeding yonder — 
still, still these colonists cling to the name of England, 
still shudder at the big word that chokes their utterance, 
to speak Independence. 

At this moment, while all is still, a visitor is an- 
nounced. A man somewhat short in stature, clad in a 
coat of faded brown takes his seat at the table, is intro- 



379 

duced to these gentlemen by Franklin, and then informed 
of the topic under discussion. Look upon his brow, his 
flashing eye, as in earnest words he pours forth his 
soul. 

Washington, Adams, Rush, Franklin — all are hushed 
into silence. At first, the man horrifies them with his 
political blasphemy. But as he goes on, as his broad, 
solid brow warms with fire, as his eye flashes the full 
light of a soul roused into all its life as those deep, earn- 
est tones speaks of the Independence of America — her 
glorious future — her people, that shall swejl into count- 
less millions — her navy, that shall whiten the uttermost 
sea — her destiny, that shall stride on over the wrecks of 
thrones, to the Universal Empire of the Western Conti- 
nent ! 

Then behold 

They rise round the table; they press that man — 
Washington grasps both his hands, and in a voice deep- 
ened by emotion, begs him for the sake of God, to write 
those words in a book ! 

A book that shall be read in all the homes, and thun- 
dered from all the tongues in America. 

Do you see the picture, my friends ? 

That man standing there, flushed, trembling with the 
excitement of his own thoughts — that splendidly formed 
Virginia planter on one side grasping him by the hand, 
those great-souled men encircling him on the other, John 
Adams, Eenjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin. Their 
gleaming eyes shine with one soul, and read on the 
great cloud of the Future this one word — INDEPEN- 
DENCE! 



880 

The day after this scene, that modest Virginia planter, 
George Washington, was named Commander-in-Chief of 
the continental armies. 

And in the summer days of '75 that man was seen 
walking up and down in front of the old State-house, his 
great forehead shone in full sunlight, while, with his hands 
placed behind his back, he went slowly along the pave- 
ment. Then he would hurry to his lonely garret, seize 
the quill, and write down the deep thoughts of his 
brain. 

Then forth again for a w^alk in the State-house 
Square — up and down under these old trees, he wan- 
ders all the afternoon — at night, there is a light burning 
in yonder garret window, burning all night, till break of 
day. 

Let us look in that garret window — what see you 
there ? 

A rude and neglected room^ — a man sitting beside an 
old table, with scattered sheets of paper all about him— 
the light of an unsnufFed candle upon his brow — that 
unfailing quill in his hand ! 

Ah, my friend, you may talk to me of the sublimity 
of your battles, whose poetry is bones and skulls, whose 
glories are like the trophies of the butchers' shambles — 
but for me, there is no battle so awfully sublime as one 
like this, now being fought before your eyes. 

A poor neglected author sitting in his garret — the 
world, poverty, time, space, all forgotten — as with his 
soul kindled into one steady blaze, he plies that fast- 
moving quill. That quill writes down w^ords on that 



381 

which shall burn into the brains of kings, words like 
arrows, winged with fire and pointed with vitriol. 

Go on, brave author, sitting in your garret, alone at 
this dead hour — go on — on through the silent watches 
of the night, and God's blessings fall like breezes of 
June, upon your damp brow. Go on, in the name of 
God and man, for you are writing the thoughts of a na- 
tion into birth. 

For many days in the year 1775, was that man seen 
walking up and down the State-house Square. The 
proud Tory passed by him with scorn. Yet he was 
thinking great thoughts, which would eat away the 
throne of that Tory's king ! The Tory, the vulgar rich 
man, the small dog in office, passed him by with scorn, 
but men of genius took him by the arm and called him 
brother. Look yonder ! There in a lonely garret night 
after night, burns that solitary lamp. 

At last the work is done. At last, grappling the loose 
sheets in his trembling hands — trembling because feverish 
from the toil of the brain — he rushes forth one morning. 
His book is written ; it now must be printed — scattered 
to the homes of America. But look ye, not one printer 
w^ill touch the book, not a publisher but grows pale at 
the sight of those dingy pages. Because it ridicules the 
British Pope ; ridicules the British Monarchy ; because 
it speaks out, in plain words, that nothing now remains 
to be done but to declare the New World free and inde- 
pendent. 

This shocks the trembling printers — touch such a mess 
of treasonable stuff — never ! But at last a printer is 
found, a bold Scotchman, named Robert Bell. Write that 



382 

name on your hearts, for it is worthy of all reverence 
He transformed those loose pages into type, and on the 
1st of January, 1776, Common Sense burst on the peo- 
ple of the New World like a prophecy ! 

Yes, that book bursts on the hearts and homes of 
America like a light from heaven. 

It is read by the mechanic at his bench, the merchant 
at his desk. 

" It burst from the press,^^ says the great Doctor 
Rushy '^ with an effect which has been rarely produced 
by types or paper, in any age or country. ^^ 

Ramsay, in his History of the Revolution, and his 
brother historian, Gordon, solemnly state the fact that 
this book was a most important cause of the separation 
from the Mother Country. 

Thomas Jefferson, Joel Barlow, George Washington, 
unite in their praises of this work. Long after its publi- 
cation Jefferson sent a government ship to bring the 
author home from France ; Washington invited him to the 
shelter of his own home; Barlow described him, " One 
of the most benevolent and disinterested of mankind, en- 
dowed with the clearest perception, an uncommon share 
of original genius, and the greatest breadth of thought." 

In August, 1785, after the battle w^as fought and the 
empire established. Congress, in a solemn resolution, 
stamped the author of Common Sense with their appro- 
bation, as one of the greatest of the great men of the 
Revolution. 

This book was the cause and forerunner of the Decla- 
ration of Independence. 

In this book, for the first time, were written these 



383 

great words : '* The Free and Independent States of 
Am erica J ^ 

Let us follow this man through the scenes of the Re- 
volution. 

In the full prime of early manhood, he joins the army 
of the Revolution ; he shares the crust and the cold with 
Washington and his men — he is w4th those brave soldiers 
on the toilsome march, with them by the camp fire, with 
them in the hour of battle. 

Why is he with them ? 

Is the day dark — has the battle been bloody — do the 
American soldiers despair ? Hark ! that printing press 
yonder, which moves with the American camp in all its 
wanderings, is scattering pamphlets through the ranks 
of the army. * 

Pamphlets — written by the author-soldier : written 
sometimes on the head of a drum — or by the midnight 
fire, OT amid the corses of the dead. Pamphlets that 
stamp great hopes aud greater truths, in plain words, 
upon the hearts of the Continental Army. 

Tell me, was not that a sublime sight, to see a man 
of genius, who might have shone as an orator, a poet, a 
novelist, following, with untiring devotion, the bloody- 
stamped footsteps of the Continental army ? 

Yes, in the dark days of ^76, when the soldiers of 
Washington tracked their footsteps on the soil of Tren- 
ton, in the snows of Princeton, there, first among the 
heroes and patriots, there, nnflincliing in the hour of de- 
eat, writing his ^^ Crisis" by the light of the camp fire, 
was the Author-IIero of the Revolution. 

Yes, we will look into the half-clad ranks of Wash- 



384 

ington's army, we will behold each corporal surrounded 
by a group of soldiers, as he reads aloud the pamphlets 
of the Author-Soldier. What hope, what joy, what 
energy gleams over the veteran faces, as w^ords, like 
these, break on the frosty air — 

^' These are the times that try men's souls. The 
summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this 
crisis, shrink from the service of his country ; but he 
that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of men 
and women. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered, 
yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the 
conflict, the more glorious the triumph/' 

Do not words like these stir up the blood ? 

Yet can you imagine their effect, w^hen read to groups 
of starved atid bleeding soldiers, by the red watch-fire, 
in the cold air of the winter dawn? 

Such words as these stirred up the starved Continentals 
to the attack on Trenton, and there, in the dawn of that, 
glorious morning, George Washington, standing sword 
in hand over the dead body of the Hessian Rohl, con- 
fessed the magic influence of the Author-Hero's pen. 

The vilest enemy of this Author-Hero, a base hireling 
of the English Court, yes, even he, atheist, blasphemer, 
libeller of Jefferson, and Franklin, and Madison, as he 
w^as, even he, a thing so small in soul, that his very 
masters were ashamed of him, was forced to confess that 
the cannon of Washington was not more formidable to 
the British, than the pen of the author of Common 
Sense,^^ 

Is there a heart that does not throb at the name of 



385 

the author of the Declaration, '^ Thomas Jefferson^ the 
Statesman' Hero of the Revolution.^^ 

And do your hearts throb at the mention of his name, 
and yet refuse to pay even the tribute of one solitary 
pulsation of justice to the memory of his brother-patriot, 
his forerunner in the work of freedom, the Author- Hero 
of the Revolution — Thomas Paine ? 



33 



386 



COLUMBUS IN CHAINS 

For discovering a western world, where millions of 
happy souls dwell on his discoveries. 

'Twas eve : — upon his chariot throne 
The sun sank lingering in the west ; 

But sea and sky were there alone, 
To hail him in this hour of rest ; 

Yet never shone his glories light 

More calmly, gloriously bright. 

Nor clouds above, nor wave below, 
Nor human sound, nor earthly air, 

Mingled with that o'erwhelming glow, 
Marred the deep peace reposing there ; 

The sea looked of the sky's fair mould, 

The sky, a sea of burning gold. 

Anon, a single ship, from far, 

Came softly gliding o'er the sea : 
lovely and quiet as a star, 

When its fair path is calm and free ; 
Or like a bird, with snow-white wing. 
Came on that glittering, gentle thing. 

She came with buoyant beauty crowned, 
And yet disturbed the scene's repose ; 

For she, of all the objects round. 
Alone was linked to human woes ; 

She only, mid the glorious span. 

Spoke of the world, — the world of man. 



887 

And yet she bore, from conquering feat, 
The bi aye, the joyous and the free, 

And many a nobler heart that beat 
With hopes as boundless as the sea ; 

One only felt his course was run, — 

He gazed upon the sinking sun. 

His the keen eye and stately form, 
And reason's majesty of brow ; 

His the firm soul, that danger's storm. 
When most it bafiled, could not bow> — 

The soul that taught him now to wear 

His fetters with a kingly air. 

Yet was that mighty soul subdued 
By man's neglect and sorrow's sway, 

As rocks, that have the storm withstood, 
May silent waters wear away. 

But the vexed spirit spurned its yoke ; 

He looked upon his chains, and spoke : 

** Adopted land ! Adopted land I 
And these, then, are thy gifts for me, 

Who dared, where unknown seas expand, 
Seek realms and riches vast for thee ! 

Who made, without thy fostering power, 

An undivided world thy dower ! 

*' O'er Spain yon glorious sun may set, 
And leave her native realm awhile ; 

May rise o'er other lands, — and yet — 
Even there — on her dominions smile ; 

Be, when his daily course is run. 

To Spain a never-setting sun. 

*' I served thee as a son would serve ; 

I loved thee with a father's love ; 
It ruled my thought, and strung my nerve. 

To raise thee other lands above, 



388 

And, from a queen of earth, to be 
The single empress of the sea. 

<* For thee my form is bowed and worn • 

With midnight watches on the main ; 

For thee my soul hath calmly borne 
Ills worse than sorrow, more than pain ; 

Through life, whate'er my lot may be, 

I lived, dared, suffered, but for thee. 

a My guerdon ? — 'Tis a furrowed brow, 
Hair gray with grief, eyes dim with tears, 

And blighted hope, and broken vow. 
And poverty for coming years. 

And hate, with malice in her train : — 

What other guerdon ? Yiew my chain ! 

" Yet say not that I weep for gold ; 

No, let it be the robber's spoil ; 
Nor yet, that hate and malice bold 

Decry my triumph and my toil : — 
I weep but for my country's shame ; 
I weep but for her blackened fame. 

*' No more. The sunlight leaves the sea ; 

Farewell, thou never-dying king ! 
Earth's clouds and changes change not thee ; 

And thou, — and thou, — grim, giant thing, 
Cause of my glory and my pain, — 
Farewell, unfathomable main !" 

Alas^ for the fate of Columbus, and alas for the kin- 
dred soul of the martyred Thomas Paine, to whom an 
ungrateful world died w^ith the sin of ingratitude on their 
souls to two of their best benefactors — one discovering 
a new w^orld, the other freeing their souls from mental 
bondage ! 



389 



A COMPARATIYE VIEW BETWEEN THE 

DUKE OF WELLINGTON AND NAPOLEON, 

Two of the most consummate generals nature has 
produced or history recorded. An intellectual treat tor 
military commanders, statesmen, philosophers and rea- 
ders, wrote by an accomplished historian of a strict sense 
of honor, impartiality, candor and truth ; recommended 
to the reading world, showing two rival commanders, 
each possessed of all the essential qualities that the mind 
can conceive, courage, fortitude, caution, perseverance, 
benevolence, honor and integrity, with all the virtues 
and dignities of man ; hence the scale of judgment be- 
tween them stands in equipoise, and only turned by the 
casual effect of fortune or mysterious fate, in behalf of 
Wellington. 

The Duke of Wellington's campaigns furnish lessons 
for generals of all nations, but they must always be 
peculiarly models for British commanders in future con- 
tinental wars, because he modified and reconciled the 
great principles of art with the peculiar difficulties which 
attend generals controlled by politicians, who, depending 
upon private intrigue, prefer parliamentary to national 
interests. An English commander must not trust his 
fortune. He dare not risk much, however conscious he 
may be of personal resources, when one disaster will be 
his ruin at home. His measures must, therefore, be 
33* 



390 

subordinate to this primary consideration. Lord Wel- 
lington's caution, springing from that source, has led 
friends and foes alike into wrong conclusions as to his 
system of war. The French call it want of enterprise, 
timidity ; the English have denominated it the Fabian 
system. These are mere phrases. His system was the 
same as that of all great generals. He held his army in 
hand, keeping it with unmitigated labor always in a fit 
state to march or to fight ; and thus prepared, he acted 
indifferently, as occasion offered, on the offensive or de- 
fensive, displaying, in both, a complete mastery of his 
art. Sometimes he w^as indebted to fortune, sometimes 
to his natural genius, but always to his untiring industry, 
for he was emphatically a pains-taking man. 

That he was less vast in his designs, less daring in 
execution, neither so rapid nor so original a commander 
as Napoleon, must be admitted ; and, being later in the 
field of glory, it is to be presumed that he learned some- 
thing of the art from that greatest of all masters; yet, 
something besides the difference of genius must be 
allowed for the difference of situation ; Napoleon was 
never, even in his first campaign of Italy, so harassed 
by the French, as Wellington w^as by the English, Span- 
ish and Portuguese governments. Their systems of war 
were, however, alike in principle, their operations being 
necessarily modified by their different political positions. 
Great bodily exertion, unceasing watchfulness, exact 
combinations to protect their flanks and communications 
without scattering their forces, these were common to 
both. In defence, firm, cool, enduring; in attack, fierce 
and obstinate ; daring when daring was politic, but 



391 

always operating by the flanks in preference to the front ; 
in these things they were alike, but in following up a 
victory, the English general fell short of the French 
emperor. The battle of Wellington was the stroke of a 
battering-ram — down went the walls in ruins. The bat- 
tle of Napoleon was the swell and dash of a mighty 
wave, before which the barrier yielded, and the roaring 
flood poured onwards, covering all. 

Yet there was nothing of timidity or natural want of 
enterprise to be discerned in the English generaPs cam- 
paigns. Neither was he of the Fabian school. He 
recommended that commander's system to the Spaniards, 
but he did not follow it himself. His military policy 
more resembled that of Scipio Africanus. Fabius, dread- 
ing Hannibal's veterans, red with the blood of four con- 
sular armies, hovered on the mountains, refused battle, 
and to the unmatched skill and valor of the great Car- 
thaginian, opposed the almost inexhaustible military re- 
sources of Rome. Lord Wellington was never loath to 
fight when there was any equality of numbers. He 
landed in Portugal with only nine thousand men, with 
intent to attack Junot, who had twenty-four thousand. 
At Rolica, he w^as the assailant, at Vimiera, he was 
assailed, but he would have changed to the offensive 
during the battle if others had not interfered. At Oporto, 
he was again the daring and successful assailant. In 
the Talavera campaign, he took the initiatory movements, 
although, in the battle itself, he sustained the shock. 
His campaign of 1811 was entirely aggressive, although 
cautiously so, as well knowing that in mountain warfare 
those who attack labor at a disadvantage. The opera- 



392 

tions of the following campaign, including the battles of 
Fuentes Onoro, and Albuera, the first siege of Badajos 
and the combat of Guinaldo were of a mixed character ; 
so was the campaign of Salamanca ; but the campaign 
of Vittoria and that in the south of France were entirely 
and eminently offensive. 

Slight, therefore, is the resemblance to the Fabian 
warfare. And for the Englishman's hardiness and enter- 
prise, bear witness the passage of the Douro at Oporto, 
the capture of Ciudad Rodrigo, the storming of Badajos, 
the surprise of the forts at Mirabete, the march to Vit- 
toria, the passage of the Bidassoa, the victory of Nivelle, 
the passage of the Adour below Bayonne, the fight of 
Orthes, the crowning battle of Toulouse. To say that 
he committed faults is only to say that he made war ; 
but to deny him the qualities of a great commander is to 
rail against the clear mid-day sun for want of light. 
How few of his combinations failed ! How many battles 
he fought, victorious in all ! Iron hardihood of body, a 
quick and sure vision, a grasping mind, untiring power 
of thought, and the habit of laborious minute investiga- 
tion and arrangement ; all these qualities he possessed, 
and with them that most rare faculty of coming to 
prompt and sure conclusions on sudden emergencies. 
This is a certain mark of a master spirit in war ; with- 
out it a commander may be distinguished, he may be a 
great man, but he cannot be a great captain ; where 
troops, nearly alike in arms and knowledge, are opposed, 
the battle generally turns upon the decision of the mo- 
ment. 

At the Somosierra, Napoleon's sudden, and what to 



393 

those about him appeared an insensate, order, sent the 
Polish cavalry successfully charging up the mountain, 
when more studied arrangements with ten times that 
force might have failed. At Talavera, if Joseph had 
not yielded to the imprudent heat of Victor, the fate of 
the allies would have been sealed. At the Coa, Mont- 
brun's refusal to charge with his cavalry saved General 
Craufurd's division, the loss of w^hich would have gone 
far towards producing the evacuation of Portugal. At 
Busaco, Massena would not suffer Ney to attack the 
first day, and thus lost the only favorable opportunity 
for assailing that formidable position. At Fuentes 
Onoro, the same Massena suddenly suspended his attack, 
when a powerful effort w^ould probably have been deci- 
sive. At Albuera, Soult's column of- attack, instead of 
pushing forward, halted to fire from the first height they 
had gained on Beresford's right, which saved that gene- 
ral from an early and total defeat ; again, at a later 
period of that battle, the unpremeditated attack of the 
fusileers decided the contest. At Barossa, Gen. Graham, 
w^ith a wonderful promptitude, snatched the victory at 
the very moment when a terrible defeat seemed inevita- 
ble. At Sabugal, not even the astonishing fighting of 
the light division could have saved it if General Reynier 
had possessed this essential quality of a general. At El 
Bodon, Marmont failed to seize the most favorable op- 
portunity which occurred during the whole wav for 
crusViing the allies. At Orthes, Soult let slip two oppor- 
tunities of falling upon the allies with advantage, and, 
at Toulouse, he failed to crush Bercsford. 

At Vimiera, Lord Wellington w^as debarred by Bur- 



894 

rard from giving a signal illustration of this intuitive 
generalship ; but at Busaco and the heights of San Cris- 
toval near Salamanca, he suffered Massena and Mar- 
mont to commit glaring faults unpunished. On the 
other hand, he has furnished many examples of that suc- 
cessful improvisation in which Napoleon seems to have 
surpassed all mankind. His sudden retreat from Oropesa 
across the Tagus by the bridge of Arzobispo ; his pas- 
sage of the Douro in 1809 ; his halt at Guinaldo in the 
face of Marmont's overwhelming numbers ; the battle of 
Salamanca ; his sudden rush with the third division to 
seize the hill of Armez at Vittoria ; his counterstroke 
with the sixth division at Sauroren ; his battle of the 
30th, two days afterwards ; his sudden passage of the 
Gave below Orthes. Add to these his w-onderful battle 
of Assaye, and the proofs are complete that he possesses 
in an eminent degree, that intuitive perception which 
distinguishes the greatest generals. 

Fortune, however, always asserts her supremacy in 
•war, and often, from a slight mistake, such disastrous 
consequences flow, that, in every age and every nation, 
the uncertainty of arms has been proverbial. Napoleon's 
inarch upon Madrid, in 1808, before he knew the exact 
situation of the British army, is an example. By that 
march he lent his flank to his enemy. Sir John Moore 
seized the advantage, and, though the French emperor 
repaired the error for the moment by his astonishing 
march from Madrid to Astorga, the fate of the Peninsula 
was then decided. If he had not been forced to turn 
against Moore, Lisbon would have fallen, Portugal could 
not have been organized for resistance, and the jealousy 



395 

of the Spaniards would never have suffered Wellington 
to establish a solid base at Cadiz ; that general's after 
successes would then have been with the things that are 
unborn. It was not so ordained. Wellington was vic- 
torious, the great conqueror was overthrown. England 
stood the most triumphant nation in the world. But 
with an enormous debt, a dissatisfied people, gaining 
peace without tranquillity, greatness without intrinsic 
strength, the present time uneasy, the future dark and 
threatening. Yet she rejoices in the glory of her arms. 
And it is a stirring sound. War is the condition of this 
world. From man to the smallest insect, all are at strife, 
and the glory of arms, which cannot be obtained without 
the exercise of honor, fortitude, courage, obedience, mo- 
desty and temperance, excites the brave man's patriotism, 
and is a chastening corrective for the rich man's pride. 
It is yet no security for power. Napoleon, the greatest 
man of whom history makes mention — Napoleon, the 
most wonderful commander, the most sagacious politi- 
cian, the most profound statesmen, lost by arms Poland, 
Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain and France. Fortune, 
that name for the unknown combinations of infinite 
power, was wanting to him, and without her aid the de- 
signs of man are as bubbles on a troubled ocean. 

JVapoleon^s whole history, summed up by himself in a 

few words, 

"I closed the gulf of anarchy and cleared the chasm. 
I purified the revolution, dignified nations, and estab- 
lished kings. I excited every kind of emulation, re- 
warded every kind of merit, and extended the limits of 



396 

glory ! This is at least something. And on what point 
can I be assailed on which an historian could not defend 
me ? Can it be for my intentions ? But even here I 
can find absolution. Can it be for my despotism ? It 
may be demonstrated that the dictatorship was abso- 
lutely necessary. Will it be said that I restrained 
liberty ? It can be proved that licentiousness, anarchy, 
and the greatest irregularities, still haunted the threshold 
of freedom. Shall I be accused of having been too fond 
of war? It can be shown that I always received the 
first attack. Will it be said that I aimed at universal 
monarchy ? It can be proved that this was merely the 
result of fortuitous circumstances, and that our. enemies 
themselves led me step by step to this determination. 
Lastly, shall I be blamed for my ambition? This pas- 
sion I must doubtless be allowed to have possessed, and 
that in no small degree, but, at the same time, my am- 
bition was of the highest and noblest kind that ever per- 
haps existed — that of establishing and consecrating the 
empire of reason, and the full exercise and complete en- 
joyment of all the human faculties. And here the his- 
torian will probably feel compelled to regret that such 
ambition should not have been fulfilled and gratified.'' 
Then, after a few moments of silent reflection, ^^this,'' 
said the emperor, "is my whole history in a few words,'* 



397 



This sublime poem is considered a lucid description of 
the planetary orbs that wheel their diurnal course 
around our pole-star — the dazzling eye of the centre 
and axle of our globe. 

With what a stately and inajestic step 
That glorious constellation of the north 
Treads its eternal circle I going forth 
Its princely way amongst the stars in slow 
And silent brightness. Mighty one, all hail ! 
I joy to see thee, on thy glowing path, 
Walk, like some stout and girded giant — stern, 
Unwearied, resolute, whose toiling foot 
Disdains to loiter on its destined way. 
The other tribes forsake their midnight J:rack, 
And rest their weary orbs beneath the wave ; 
But thou dost never close thy burning eye, 
Nor stay thy steadfast step. But on, still on, 
AVhile systems change, and suns retire, and worlds 
Slumber and wake, th}- ceaseless march proceeds. 
The near horizon tempts to rest in vain. 
Thou, faithful sentinel, dost never quit 
Thy long-appointed watch ; but, sleepless still, 
iJost guard the fixed light of the universe, 
And bid the north forever know its place. 

Ages have witnessed thy devoted trust. 
Unchanged, unchanging. When the sons of ( iod 
Sent forth that shout of joy which rang tlirough hcavni. 
And echoed from the outer spheres that bound 
The illimitable universe, thy voice 
Joined the high chorus ; from thy radiant orbs 
Tlie glad cry sounded, swelling to His praise. 

34 



398 

Who thus had cast another sparkling gem, 
Little, but beautiful, amid the crowd 
Of splendors that enrich his firmament. 
As thou art now, so wast thou then the same. 

Ages have rolled their course, and time grown gray ; 
The earth has gathered to her womb again, 
And yet again, the myriads, that were bom 
Of her, uncounted, unremembered tribes. 
The seas have changed their beds ; the eternal hills 
Have stooped with age ; the solid continents 
Have left their banks ; and man's imperial works — 
The toil, pride, strength of kingdoms, which had flung 
Their haughty honors in the face of heaven, 
As if immortal — have been swept away — 
Shattered and mouldering, buried and forgot. 
But time has shed no dimness on thy front. 
Nor touched the firmness of thy tread ; youth, strength 
And beauty still are thine — as clear, as bright, 
As when the almighty Former sent thee forth, 
Beautiful offspring of his curious skill. 
To watch earth's northern beacon, and proclaim 
The eternal chorus of eternal Love. 

I wonder as I gaze. That stream of light, 
Undimmed, unquenched, — just as I see it now, — 
Has issued from those dazzling points, through years 
That go back far into eternity. 
Exhaustless flood ! forever spent, renewed 
Forever ! Yea, and those refulgent drops. 
Which now descend upon my lifted eye. 
Left their far fountain twice three years ago. 
While those winged particles, whose speed outstrips 
The flight of thought, were on their way, the earth 
Compassed its tedious circuit round and round, 
And, in the extremes of annual change, beheld 
Six autumns fade, six springs renew their bloom. 



399 



So far from earth those mighty orbs revolve ! 

So vast the void through which their beams descend ! 

Yea, glorious lamps of God, He may have quenched 
Your ancient flames, and bid eternal night 
Rest on your spheres ; and yet no tidings reach 
This distant planet. Messengers still come 
Laden with jour far fire, and we may seem 
To see your lights still burning ; while their blaze 
But hides the black wreck of extinguished realms, 
Where anarchy and darkness long have reigned. 

Yet what is this, which to the astonished mind 
Seems measureless, and which the baflfled thought 
Confounds ? A span, a point, in those domains 
Which the keen eye can traverse. Seven stars 
Dwell in that brilliant cluster, and the sight 
Embraces all at once ; yet each from each 
Recedes as far as each of them from earth. 
And every star from every other burns 
No less remote. From the profound of heaven, 
Un traveled even in thought, keen, piercing rays 
Dart through the void, revealing to the sense 
Systems and worlds unnumbered. Take the glass 
And search the skies. The opening skies pour down 
Upon your gaze thick showers of sparkling fire — 
Stars, crowded, thronged, in region so remote, 
That their swift beams — the swiftest things that be — 
Have traveled centuries on their flight to earth. 
Earth, sun, and nearer constellatious, what 
Are ye, amid this infinite extent 
And multitude of God's most infinite works ? 

And these are suns ! — vast, central, living fires, 
Lords of dependent systems, kings of worlds 
That wait as satellites upon their power, 
And flourish in their smile. Awake, my soul, 



400 



And meditate the wonder ! Countless suns 

Blaze round thee, leading forth their countless worlds ! 

Worlds, in whose bosoms living things rejoice, 

And driuk the bliss of being from the fount 

Of all-pervading Love. What mind can know, 

What tongue can utter, all their multitudes ! 

Thus numberless in numberless abodes ! 

Known but to thee, blessed Father ! Thine they are, 

Thy children and thy care ; and none o'erlooked" 

Of thee ! — no, not the humblest soul that dwells 

Upon the humblest globe, which wheels its course 

Amid the giant glories of the sky, 

Like the mean mote that dances in the beam 

Amongst the mirrored lamps which fling 

Their wasteful splendor from the palace wall. 

None, none escape the kindness of thy care ; 

All compassed underneath thy spacious wing. 

Each fed and guided by thy powerful hand. 

Tell me, ye splendid orbs, as, from your throne. 
Ye mark the rolling provinces that own 
Tour sway — what beings fill those bright abodes ? 
How formed, how gifted ? what their powers, their state, 
Their happiness, their wisdom ? Do they bear 
The stamp of human nature ? Or has God 
Peopled those purer realms with lovelier forms 
And more celestial minds ? Does Innocence 
Still wear her native and untainted bloom ? 
Or has Sin breathed his deadly blight abroad, 
And sowed corruption in those fairy bowers ? 
Has War trod o'er them with his foot of fire ? 
And Slavery forged his chains ? and Wrath and Hate, 
And sordid Selfishness, and cruel Lust, 
Leagued their base bands to tread out light and truth, 
And scattered wo where Heaven had planted joy ? 
Or are they yet all paradise, unfallen 



401 



And uncorrupt ? existence one long joy, 

Without disease upon the frame, or sin 

Upon the heart, or weariness of life — 

Hope never quenched, and age unknown, 

And death unfeared ; while fresh and fadeless youth 

Glows in the light from God's near throne of love ? 

Open your lips, ye wonderful and fair ! 
Speak, speak ! the mysteries of those living worlds 
Unfold ! — No language ? Everlasting light, 
And everlasting silence ? — Yet the eye 
May read and understand. The hand of God 
Has written legibly what man may know — 
The glory of the Maker. There it shines, 
IneiFable, unchangeable ; and man, 
Bound to the surface of this pigmy globe. 
May know and ask no more. In other days. 
When death shall give the encumbered spirit wings. 
Its range shall be extended ; it shall roam, 
Perchance, amongst those vast, mysterious spheres, 
Shall pass from orb to orb, and dwell in each 
Familiar with its children — learn their laws. 
And share their state, and study and adore 
The infinite varieties of bliss 
And beauty, by the Hand of Power divine 
Lavished on all its works. Eternity 
Shall thus roll on with ever fresh delight ; 
No pause of pleasure or improvement ; world 
On world still opening to the instructed mind 
An unexhausted universe, and time 
But adding to its glories ; while the soul, 
Advancing ever to the Source of light 
And all perfection, lives, adores and reigns 
In cloudless knowledge, purity and bliss. 



402 

V 

FINAL EXTINCTION OF LIFE ON EARTH 

By gradual absorption of fluids into solids. 

This subject, although not quite philosophic, yet bearing con- 
siderable demonstrative truths as a basis for its rationality ; there- 
fore, from the experience gained in geology, the various strata of 
mineral, vegetable and animal substances combining new results 
of fluids into solids, graded into diamonds, pearls, gold, platina, 
silver, copper, iron, with their vast varieties ; all these God has 
given to man gratis— the earth for a habitation and the sea for an 
inheritance — but as all created things had a beginning, all will 
have an end in about equal time, from its first creation to its per- 
fection, then gradually disorganizes its due proportions of fluids 
into solids, and our earth, like its mistress, the moon, will become 
an exhausted planet of barren rocks, without atmosphere, clouds, 
rivers or seas, to support life ; yet still retaining its innate laws of 
orbital, central and centrifugal motion, as a balance-wheel to the 
universe, until the sun, the centre and axle of our solar system, 
shall exhaust bis fire and grow dim with age, and cast his pall of 
darkness over a dead world ; until heaven's Supreme Architect 
shall reorganize and invest it with new vitality — it being an axiom 
that all material things are subject to decay and renovation — the 
sea ebbs and flows, earth and sea give birth to millions of ani- 
mate and inanimate things annually, which is the routine of nature, 
intellectual man requiring a longer time to perfection in this life, 
with the pleasing anticipation of a well spent life here, with a 
higher state of bliss in eternity. Nature grading things in dura- 
bility, according to magnitude, matter increate and indestructable, 
yet subject to re-organization by changing fluids into solids, and 
that all solids were originally in a fluid state and combined into 
solids by saline incrustation and vitrification — the sea being the 
original habitation of animal and vegetable life — as the likeness of 
all things of the earth is found in the sea, man excepted ; he being 
the last and mightiest efibrt of Creative Power, endowed with facul- 
ties over all other terrestrial beings, that of a spiritual soul, to 
exist by a righteous life on earth, through a happy eternity. 



403 

The following is a brief summary of the prominent points to 
close this book, by stating that, from a critical analysis of scrip- 
ture, more particularly the Mosaic Talmud and New Testament, 
from which the latter, with additional chicanery, trick and miracle 
was stereotyped solely for a deep designed scheme to revolutionize 
the world in political and religious sentiment ; and, like Alexander 
the great robber, divide the fairest kingdoms of the world amongst 
his chief bandits — Moses being fully qualified for such an enter- 
prise — a philosopher, statesman and scholar, liberated the millions 
of Israel from bondage, drilled them into an army and conquered 
the fairest kingdoms of the w'orld to divide it among his victorious 
bandits. They, like the pope of Rome, possessing himself of ill- 
gotten power, turned tyrants and enslaved others, such has been 
the routine of the world until the American Revolution dissolved 
the charm by a republican form of equitable government of free 
men — slavery not being legalized by our general code of laws— it 
only existing as tyrannic might over right. 

Closing with a brief analysis of the Christian delusion, with a 
trinitarian god-head, like the Brahmin idols' faces, to see round 
the world. This is only one prime feature differing from Jewish- 
ism. Moses taught the forgiveness of sins by the virtue of a scape- 
goat — Jesus taught it by paying the priesthood — Moses was forty 
days on the mount consulting with God on the principles of his 
Talmud ; Jesus was forty days in the wilderness contending with 
the devil on the supremacy of worship ; Moses assumed to be the 
oracle of God ; Jesus assumed to be God over God, supreme over 
earth and heaven ; Moses claimed supernatural power over the 
laws of nature ; Jesus, while on earth, claimed and feigned power 
to raise himself and others from the dead, and transfer his power 
to his apostles with the keys of heaven, with hereditary transfer of 
pow^r to the pope, as vice-gerent of Ood on earth until he would 
come again to raise and judge the quick and the dead. Moses 
carried out all his measures by extermination, plunder and spoils 
of the nations he traveled through, with that of the fair kingdoms 
of Canaan, which he conquered, exterminated, and possessed their 
cities houses and lands — all said to be by the orders of the Lord, 
that fought for Israel. Jesus, equally as insidious, succeeded by 



404 

denunciatory threats and promises of riches on earth and thrones 
in heaven, to those that would sell their places and give it to the 
poor saints. This is the way the Christian cabal of one hundred and 
twenty designers, carried themselves and party into wealth and 
power in the splendid city of Rome, by inducing Gonstantine, the 
emperor, to join their religion and party, and then rose on the 
ruins of god-like Eome, the empress of an adoring world — 

" And what avails her glorj- here ? 
Alas! for Rome, a sigh, a tear." 

This is an epitome description of the rise and fall of Jewishism — 
the rise and sinking destiny of trinitarianism — both conceived in 
sin, nurtured in iniquity and baptized in blood and crime of the 
deepest dye — a sorry standard book at our more enlightened day. 
The reader of this book will please to recollect that the re-opening 
of the seven seals of the Revelation is the exposition given of the 
blasphemous assumption of supernatural power of these one hun- 
dred and twenty designing hypocrites to carry them into wealth, 
power and glory on earth, and thrones and crowns in heaven, 
which their fanatical master, Jesus, promised them when he sent 
them out to preach his gospel of duplicity under the garb of sanc- 
tity. This is Jewishism, Christianism, Mohammedanism and pagan- 
ism, since tlie high priest, Cain, slew his pious brother Abel. All 
human inventions to carry sects and parties into power — all ancient 
and modern idolatiy, except the spiritual worship of one supreme 
God, the essence and soul of the universe, whose attributes are wis- 
dom, justice, goodness, truth and mercy, these are the virtuous quali- 
ties of God, here given as a universal standard of rectitude, the practice 
of which would lead every soul of Adam to happiness in time and 
eternity. Here is the essence and attribute of God's religion without 
supervisionary appendages, •clear to the common understanding of 
man in the heavens above and the earth beneath — the broad chart 
of nature leading up through nature to nature's God. And if the 
reader takes half the penetrating thought that the writer has given 
it, he believes it will make him a wiser and a happier man. This 
is a final close of this book called Temple of Reason. 



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